Home decorating

With unlimited possibilities available, table top fountains can add understated beauty or grandeur to any room in your house. Fountains are a worthy investment even for those who hesitate to spend money on aesthetics. Beyond eye-catching appeal, youll find that fountains have practical health benefits.

Cascading water reduces stress by bringing a sense of tranquility into a room as it engages the senses—sight, sound, and even smell. Research has shown that moving water can improve air quality by cleansing the room of dust particles and working as a humidifier. Fountains also do the following:

Table Top Fountains soothe the soul with natural outdoor sounds.

Table Top Fountains offer a visually appealing focal point to a family room or home work space.

Table Top Fountains filter sounds like computer noise, a refrigerator hum, or next room telephone conversations.

Table Top Fountains provide aromatherapy when candlelight is included in the design.

Options include table fountains, floor fountains and wall water fountains. You can find a table top fountain to compliment your current decorative choices. Far more interesting than a table lamp and more appealing than a decorative candle holder, these conveniently sized fountains eliminate the mundane. Easy to set up and even easier to maintain, space saving compact designs come in layered slate, granite sculpture, handcrafted wood, or any other material you desire.

Floor fountains compliment larger spaces than table top fountains. Floor fountains are a perfect choice for foyers, rooms with vaulted ceilings, and enclosed patios. Floor fountains make a statement about a space and those who have decorated it. Choose the fountain according to the overall look you are trying to achieve in your decor. For example--antique copper and river rocks present a rustic feel while a full-fledged waterfall makes an exotic impression.

Wall water fountains are the most dramatic fountains of the three. You can mount a wall fountain in a prominent place or build it into a wall. An entire wall can be transformed into a fountain of calm trickling water or a rapidly flowing display. Wall water fountains are often built with aluminum, concrete, river rock, copper, glass, or terra cotta. Features can include planters, light, and mist.

Whether the water flows, trickles, and comes down in a solid sheet of reflection, fountains offer the versatility needed to create a unique home interior. The practical benefits alone make fountains a worthy addition to your interior design.

About The Author

Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart http://www.onlinediscountmart.com Please email the author and include an active link to this website if youd like to use this article. marketing@4intrepid.com

There are two main roads to improving your personal finances: increasing income, and cutting costs.

Increasing income is the harder road to travel. After all, you cant always get a raise or a new job when you need one.

But cutting costs, thats a different story!

Youre in complete control in this area. And all it takes is some imagination and discipline-both of which are free.

Below are five major ways to save money in the basic areas of food, shelter, clothing and transportation. Theyre major expenses in your life - and places for major savings.

1. Home Cooking

Food is a major expense in everyones budget.

But, in todays convenience food society, its easy to overlook how much money can be saved by cooking meals at home. Plus, its fun, creative, and healthier to make your own meals.

The key is to cook in "bulk" to stretch the food you buy over several meals.

If youre a busy person with little time to spare, a good investment is a slow cooker or crock pot. Generally, they run from $20 to $80, depending on the size.

With a slow cooker, you can set aside some time on the weekend to cook stews, soups, and other delicious meals that can be frozen for weekday use.

After a hard day at work, all you have to do is pop the meal in the microwave!

More than likely, youll enjoy an additional benefit - your taste buds will wake up from mass produced food and thank you for the delicious taste of a home-cooked meal!

2. Drive less, exercise more

Is owning a car expensive

You already know the answer to that question, dont you

Gas, maintenance, insurance costs. Plus the mental aggravation of being caught in traffic jams!

Why not carpool or take public transportation-the bus, train, or light rail

Or, if you live close to work, walk or bike. Youll lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and see the world at a slower pace.

And, oh yes, youll save a couple of thousand dollars in the process.

3. Cut housing costs

This is an easy and fun way to cut costs.

Instead of paying a contractor to come in to make changes or repairs, make them yourself.

Local hardware stores love your business and will help you with tips and tricks on home repair.

Also, do your own decorating and painting. You get two benefits by doing your own changes and repairs - you get the pride of accomplishment and you save money.

4. Cut clothing costs

This can be another major area of expenses, especially if you have a family.

So, try buying used clothing... dry clothes on the clothes line instead of in a dryer... learn how to mend clothes...

...well, you get the idea!

5. Quit your addictions

Okay, so this is not really an easy category, but if you enjoy cigarettes and a drink, this is where you can realize some major savings.

Assume youre spending $5.00 a day on cigarettes. Added up over a year, thats an expense of $1825.

As for liquor or wine, we all know how expensive that is.

Assume you buy one bottle a week at $10 to share with family members or friends. Thats $520 a year.

Add both amounts up, and the total is $2,345!

Thats money that could be paying down your debt or going into savings.

And dont forget the health benefits.

You probably have many other ideas on how to save money in the five areas.

If it seems hard at times to cut costs in these places, remember one thing - youre on the road to keeping more of your money in your own pocket!

As the old saying goes: "Money saved is as good as money earned".

About The Author

Paul Davis writes for Debt Elimination 4U, showing ordinary people how to get out of debt and stay out! Visit the site at: http://debt-elimination-4u.com

Dear Reader,

These articles will provide a step by step guide on how to start and run a home based business based on my experiences and other home business owners. This is part 1 in a series of 5 articles. They are written in a basic format and where possible main points are summarised in an attempt to be understood by all. I have tried to minimise the technical jargon as much as possible.

So lets jump right in and see what we need to know about starting and running a home based business.

Regards,

Alvin http://www.parttimeincome.org

I publish Home Business Tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If you’re looking for the best rated home business opportunities, latest time saving tools and helpful support from a friend in the business, come by and a grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.parttimeincome.org

What type of business

The following is a list of business that can be run from home. Look through the list and note any that grab you, these may give ideas to explore and develop. Please note that this list is not exhaustive, there are many home based business opportunities out there! Aromatherapy Beauty therapy Book keeping Computer repairs Desktop publishing Event management Furniture restoration Graphic design Hairdressing Interior decorating Network marketing Resume writing Tutoring Web design

Will it work

Many people waste their resources on good ideas, but not viable business propositions. You need to conduct a feasibility study to test the idea and help you make a decision whether you need to pursue it or not. More on this later.

Essentials you must consider for a home based business: A good idea Money Time Customers Location

Remember this is a business and a business requires time and money. Be sure you allocate sufficient amounts of both of these when you do your research.

A good place to start your research is to see if someone else has done it before at another location. Find out if they were successful or not and why. This may involve a simple e-mail or a telephone call, you will be surprised how many people are willing to tell you their story.

Legal matters

A decision will need to be made on the legal structure to operate the business, eg: sole proprietor, limited company. You are best to check with a qualified professional, like an accountant, to determine what will be the best for you.

Business costs

You have to take things seriously, a business needs capital to start up and operate. You need to calculate business expenses and the following list will help you think about and estimate some costs. Remember these are listed to stimulate you and because your business may be different, you may have different costs.

Business expenses Start up capital Telephone, fax, computer

Operating costs Insurance Cleaning Gas & electricity

Administration costs Office supplies Consultant fees Information technology expenses

Trading costs Interest charges Leasing Packaging materials Travelling expenses & networking

Break even point

Knowing costs are important to calculate sales needed to reach break even point. This is where the gross profit is the same as your operating costs. If your business doesn’t make enough money to reach break even point, plus profit for all your efforts, this business idea may not be feasible.

Borrowing funds

You may have sufficient cash to start and operate the business. Typically you could approach family, banks and financial societies to help you kick start your idea.

When you borrow money make sure you know: How much you need What you will do with it When and how you will repay it What collateral you can offer

Target market

You must know the group of people you want to sell your product or service to: Who they are Their location When & how often they buy How much are they willing to pay Their age

The competition

Most times there are already others doing what you are going to do. Think about what way you can compete with them: Price Quality Knowledge Service

This way you and your customers will be clear on your competitive advantage.

SWOT Analysis

A SWOT analysis is a tool to help you determine whether your business will work. SWOT stands for: Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

Strength and weaknesses are factors inside your business which the business has a control over. These are what your business is good and bad at.

Opportunities and threats are factors outside your business which the business has no control over. You will find that your opportunities will emerge from your strengths, while your weakness would become threats to your business.

Suppliers

When you have determined what products you need, find a supplier. Research various suppliers and explore what they can offer you. Negotiate the best possible price and trading terms you can. Working closely together with suppliers will form a strong backbone for your business.

Cash flow forecast

This management tool is essential and gives you a summary of your monthly earnings and costs over 12 months.

The basic format of a cash flow forecast is: Starting balance Add projected cash inflow Deduct projected cash outflow Result is budgeted cash balance

Usually when you first start a home based business it may be easier to do a three month cash flow projection. List the actual monthly results and this will let you know how accurate your projections are and gives you and idea of a trend so you will be project the next 3 months.

Click Here To Get Other Resources On Home Based Business Ideas & Opportunities

I Am Making As Much Money Part Time From My Home Business As I Was Working Full Time In My 9-5 Job. Want To Hear My Story

http://www.parttimeincome.org

About The Author

I publish Home Business Tips, a fresh and informative newsletter dedicated to supporting people like YOU! If you’re looking for the best rated home business opportunities, latest time saving tools and helpful support from a friend in the business, come by and a grab a F-R-E-E subscription today at: http://www.parttimeincome.org

When it comes to holiday greeting cards, to send or not to send is often the question. Once you have decided in the affirmative, you then have to determine who to include on your list, what kind of card to choose and how to address the envelope.

There are lots of reasons for sending those holiday cards. You might want to enhance your current business relationships, attract new customers, remind old clients that you exist or show appreciation to those who have faithfully supported you during the year. What is obviously a well-meaning gesture can actually offend the people you want to impress when it is not done properly.

The first place to start is with a good quality card to show that you value your clients and colleagues. Skimping on your selection can be interpreted in a number of ways. Your recipients might take it as a sign that business has not been good or that they arent worth a little extra investment on your part.

Make sure your list is up-to-date with correct names and current addresses. If you do this on a regular basis, it does not become a dreaded holiday chore. As you gain new clients and contacts throughout the year, take a few minutes to add them to your database and mark them for your greeting card group. This way you wont overlook anyone or embarrass yourself by sending the card to the old address.

Sign each card personally. Even if you have preprinted information on the card such as your name - which is an impressive detail - you need to add your handwritten signature. The most elegant cards should still have your personal signature and a short handwritten message or greeting. Sound like a lot of trouble If the business or the relationship is worth it, so is the extra effort. This is your chance to connect on a personal level with your clients and colleagues.

Take the time to handwrite the address as well. If you are ready to throw up your hands at this point and forget the whole project, then have someone else address the envelopes for you. Whatever you do, dont use computer-generated labels. They are impersonal and make your holiday wishes look like a mass mailing. You may save time and even money, but lose a client or a business associate in the process.

You may mail your greeting to the home if you know the business person socially. Be sure to include the spouses name in this instance. The card is not sent to both husband and wife at the business address unless they both work there.

Whether you are addressing the envelope to an individual or a couple, titles should always be used. Its "Mr. John Doe," not "John Doe," or "Mr. and Mrs. John Doe, rather that "John and Mary Doe."

Be sensitive to the religious and cultural traditions of the people to whom you are sending your cards. Find out whether they observe Christmas, Hanukah or Kwanzaa and make sure your message is appropriate for each individual. If you decide to go with one card and a single message for all, choose a generic one that will not offend. "Seasons Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" are both safe bets.

Mail your greetings in time to arrive for the designated holiday. If you find yourself addressing the envelopes on Super Bowl Sunday, keep the cards until next year and send out a high-quality note thanking people for their business during the previous year instead. The best way to avoid the last minute greeting rush is to have all your envelopes addressed before Thanksgiving. Then during December you can leisurely write a short message - one or two lines are all that is necessary on each card, sign your name and have them in the mail with a minimum of hassle.

You now have all the time in the world for the shopping, baking, decorating and celebrating that accompany the holiday season.

*************************************************

Additional Tips for Addressing Envelopes

If you are about to address your holiday greeting cards or the invitations to the company party and you are confused about the correct way to do it, you are not alone. There are situations that we have not had to consider before. There are more women with professional titles, increased numbers of women who retain their maiden name after marriage, and couples choosing alternative living arrangements. The simple act of addressing an envelope has become quite complicated. Here are a few tips to cover the majority of those demanding dilemmas.

Always write titles on the envelope. The card or invitation goes to "Mr. John Smith," not "John Smith." It is addressed to "Mr. and Mrs. John Smith," instead of "John and Mary Smith."

When you address a couple, use titles, rather than professional initials. Its "Dr. and Mrs. John Smith," not "John Smith, M.D. and Mrs. Smith."

If both the husband and the wife are doctors, you write, "The Doctors Smith." However, if they use different last names, you address the envelope to "Dr. John Smith and Dr. Mary Brown." The husbands name is placed first.

If the wife is a doctor and the husband is not, you send your invitation to "Mr. John Smith and Dr. Mary Smith."

Try to get it all on one line. When the husband has an unusually long name, the wifes title and name are indented and written on the second line:

The Honorable Jonathon Richardson Staniskowsky and Mrs. Staniskowsky

When a couple is not married and share a mutual address, their names are written on separate lines alphabetically and not connected by the word "and."

Ms. Mary Brown Mr. John Smith

When the woman outranks her husband, her name is written first. Its "Major Mary Smith and Lieutenant John Smith."

Note: The mans name is always written first unless the wife outranks him or if the couple is unmarried and her last name precedes his alphabetically. So much for "Ladies first."

c 2004, Lydia Ramsey. All rights in all media reserved.

About The Author

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Womans Day. For more information about her programs, products and services, e-mail her at Lydia@MannersThatSell.com or visit her web site http://www.mannersthatsell.com.

Satisfying and lucrative real estate investment depends upon your correct assessment of profit potential, of course, but your ultimate success depends on your ability to transform a fixer into a dollhouse. The renovation process involves physical work and choosing the best supplies, in order to create maximum positive emotional effect and profits.

By incorporating the psychology of residential design, you can make wise choices in transforming your fixer house by using colors, textures, building materials, and decorations that will assure a future speedy and cost-effective sale.

The psychology of residential design addresses the entire home, inside and out, but the techniques of Transformation Psychology are a bit different, because your ultimate goal is different. The use of Design Psychology in your personal home is much more individualized, while renovating a doghouse into a dollhouse integrates more generalized design ideas to create a home that will be appealing to a broader spectrum of people.

Using Transformation Psychology to increase your real estate profits means that you must learn how our human senses and emotions are affected by our decorating details and choices of materials. Buyers view a prospective home with their eyes, but their brains interpret what they see and feel according to subtle touches you have purposefully put into your house.

Process of Transformation Psychology

Your goal is to create a glorious home that buyers wont be able to live without, and that process begins with planning all the changes that will be necessary, from inception to realization, in order to accomplish a total makeover of the house.

Color Psychology

Determine your potential buyers income level and your selling season. Use simple colors for less expensive houses and complex colors for upscale markets. Add in warm colors to attract buyers during cooler weather and cool colors to attract buyers during hot weather.

Texture Psychology

Many investors fix up houses to flip without considering how the vacant house will feel to prospective buyers. This isnt a problem in hot selling markets, but selling a vacant house in a buyers market means you need to outshine the competition instead of pricing your home lower.

Vacant houses often feel cold with all hard surfaces. Avoid a boxy, hard feeling by adding soft textures. Window coverings, towels in the bathrooms, and a lightweight round table with a fabric tablecloth add texture to soothe the buyers emotions.

Buy Materials with Drama in Mind

Instead of buying the cheapest lighting fixtures, cabinet hardware, and other building materials, look for additions which buyers fall in love with. This doesnt mean you need to spend more, just be selective. We found an awesome chandelier for only $25 at Restore Habitat for Humanitys thrift store; I found matching wall scones at Lowes where the chandelier sold for $300. Paying $50 more for the wall scones than most investors would have meant little when the house sold for more than any other home previously sold for in the neighborhood.

We love taking a dirty doghouse and turning it into a marvelous dollhouse, and were willing to invest more time and money than the average investor in order to achieve a truly dramatic transformation. We usually spend about $12,000 for each renovation, which includes the cost of materials and outside help. Many investors spend much less, but they make less profit when the property sells.

Real estate investing takes skill and planning, but using Transformation Psychology can give you a competitive edge, taking a doghouse and turning it into the kind of dollhouse that buyers will stand in line to bid on.

c Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.

About The Author

Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, and newsletters, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when it comes to buying a home. Features that attract one home-buyer may repel another.

However, the one feature of interest to every home-buyer is price. Getting the most home for your money is paramount. The real problem is figuring out whether that fixer-upper on one street is a better buy than the home in next-to-new condition two blocks away. That’s why knowing what to look for before you buy can save you time, energy and money down the line.

The first step is figuring out what kind of house you need. A good buy is only a good buy if it meets your current and future living requirements. Before shopping for a home, decide how much space you and your family require. How many bedrooms, bathrooms Is a family room necessary Do you need a layout that will accommodate a lot of entertaining Do you prefer a spacious or compact work space in the kitchen If you have small children, can the house easily be childproofed

Evaluate the front and back yards. Is there enough space to accommodate your children Do you want a park-like or garden setting Do you enjoy yard work and gardening, or do you want a low-maintenance yard Take into consideration the cost of extensive landscaping and upkeep.

Next, determine how much work is required to make the house you are considering livable. Make an honest assessment of your fix-it abilities. How much work are you willing to do or pay someone else to do Do you have basic decorating, carpentry and plumbing skills If you plan to learn as you go, make sure you have accurately determined what you are getting into. Ask an experienced friend, family member or your real estate agent for their opinion, and be sure to consider how much remodeling inconvenience the rest of the family can handle.

Unless you are ready and able to tackle a major remodel, look for a house or condominium that needs only cosmetic improvements. These include painting, wallpapering and replacing items like flooring, window treatments, bathroom and kitchen fixtures, light fixtures, cabinet and interior door hardware and appliances. Remember that even these simple changes can be costly if you have to make many of them.

Beware of improvements that seem easy enough at first glance buy may turn into major headaches and require a lot of money once you’ve moved in. Remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, changes to the floor plan, room additions and redesigned landscaping are examples of seemingly minor changes that can easily eat away the money you thought you saved by selecting a so-called “bargain priced” home. Of course, you may be perfectly willing to spend whatever money is needed to customize the house to match your tastes and needs.

Make sure major systems in the house are in good working condition. The furnace, air-conditioning and plumbing should be up to date, since repairs can be costly. Your agent can arrange to have a professional inspector determine whether the electrical wiring and any room additions are to code. Local utilities often offer free or low-cost inspections to tell you if the house is energy-efficient.

Look for a house with universally popular selling points. If you’re impressed, the next buyer down the line is bound to be, too. For example, a roomy, modern east-to-clean kitchen is the best selling point a home can have. A house with only one bathroom is less desirable than a house with two or more. Many buyers expect at least three bedrooms, with a master bedroom that offers a feeling of privacy. Lots of storage space and closets, especially walk-in closets, will be a real selling point. Family rooms or “great rooms” also are desirable. On closer examination, a house that looks like a bargain may lack some of these key features.

Don’t forget the old adage: location, location, location. Unless you’re looking for a fixer-upper, the house should be in a condition that is comparable to other homes in the neighborhood. Avoid buying the biggest or fanciest home on the block. Consider the amount of traffic or noise. Homes located in a quiet area away from a busy street will command a higher price. Make sure the schools in your district have a reputation for quality education and safety. Nearby supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and theaters also will make a location more desirable.

Good community facilities also add appeal; pools, athletic fields, community centers, libraries and hospitals all add to a neighborhood’s value and desirability. Transportation needs also should be considered. Is local public transit available How long are typical commutes to places of current and potential employment Are there several alternate route How close is a major airport All of these can affect a home’s pricing.

Consider the cost of living in a home. It’s important to consider not only purchase price but the monthly cost of living in a home. Estimate your utility and maintenance costs. For example, will the house need to be painted on a regular basis and will you need to spend money maintaining a swimming pool Ask your agent about the property tax rate and whether increases are anticipated. Will you have to pay special assessments for a homeowner’s association Consider the point in the life cycle of major household systems, such as the furnace, air conditioning, roof and kitchen appliances.

You can find a bargain! Your first step should be to seek out a knowledgeable real estate agent with experience in the market areas where you wish to purchase a home. Your agent can help you locate those properties that truly are “bargains” and help find the home that most closely matches your desires and needs.

About The Author

W. Troy Swezey is the author of “HOW TO SPOT A GOOD BUY." As a Realtor at Century 21 Paul & Associates, he has helped many individuals with their real estate needs. Visit his web site to download his free e-book, “Real Estate Secrets Exposed.” http://www.TroyIsMyRealtor.com or mail to: TroyC21@usa.net

NC—Buying your first home is an exciting new experience. Attending Open Houses, putting in an offer to buy and decorating your new home to suit your style is all part of the excitement. All the decisions that need to be made can also make you feel nervous. Here are a few tips that can help out the anxious first-time homebuyer.

How much can I afford

There are two things to consider when determining how much home you can afford. How much do you have for your downpayment What amount can you afford as a monthly payment while still enjoying life . To help you answer these questions, you can either call your financial institution, visit their website or go to your branch and talk to your personal banker.

To shop for a home with confidence, you can obtain a pre-approval certificate from your Financial Institution. This document will tell you how much of a mortgage you can afford.

How Much Do I Need for my Downpayment

You can buy a home for as little as 5% of the purchase price. However, any mortgage with a downpayment of less that 25% has to be insured by a third party such as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC. The amount of your downpayment will determine whether you need to insure your mortgage or not. Conventional Mortgage – a mortgage where you have at least 25% of the purchase price High-Ratio Mortgage – a mortgage where you have less than 25% of the purchase price

Your insurance premium will depend on the amount you are borrowing and on the percentage of your downpayment amount. Premiums usually vary between 1.25% and 3.75%.

How Can I Save for a Downpayment

There are a few different methods that can be used when saving for your downpayment Setting money aside each month just as if you had to make a monthly payment Opening a RRSP investment account. If you are a first-time homebuyer you and your spouse can use up to $20,000 each towards your dowpayment without tax implications as long as you repay the amount within 15 years. A cash gift from a parent or relative. "gift" means its non-repayable

Should I Be Aware of Any Additional Costs

Your mortgage will cover off the purchase price of your home, however there are other costs associated with buying a home. These are called hidden or closing costs and can usually amount to 1.5% to 3.5% of the total cost of your home. Here are a few examples of the hidden costs of home ownership and the costs associated with each.

Appraisal fee $150 – $200

Home inspection fee $300

Property survey $750 – $1,000

Land transfer tax $2,000

Legal fees $1,300 – 2,500

Sales tax 7%

Title insurance $250

Home Insurance $450/year

Also, dont forget to consider general expenses such as moving and home decorating costs.

Do you dream about owning your own home CIBC has now made it easier for those entering the new world of home ownership. They have formed a partnership with Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation CMHC to provide valuable and informative services for the first-time homebuyer. For more information about finding out how much you can afford, setting up an RRSP, or simply reviewing your mortgage options, contact your CIBC personal banker or call 1 800 465-CIBC 2422.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

The best price to sell your home is always determined by how you compare against your competition, the house down the street. If your property looks better than the next guy’s the customer will buy yours.

It all comes down to image, making sure it shows at its best. This is accomplished with minor repairs, some decorating and a lot of elbow grease. It’s no different than a used car dealer shining up the cars inside and out. You systematically go through your home, inside and out, room by room, and make it look great.

Outside

Paint it, wash it, mow it and clip it. First impressions are lasting, and you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. Look at your home from the street. If you can’t see it through the trees, trim bushes so windows are completely exposed. Make sure your approach to the house is clear of overhanging foliage. Wash the windows. If you have a blacktop driveway, put a fresh coat of sealer on it. Dress up flowerbeds with new shrub or flowers and repair any damaged fencing.

Inside

Arrange furniture in to give the most visual appeal to the room. This may not be the most functional, but at this point we don’t care about function. Clean up the rooms of any clutter, toys, excess furniture, books or anything that gets thrown around. You’d be amazed at how many sellers don’t do this. Don’t forget clean, clean, clean.

The less in a closet the larger they look. If the master bedroom is short on closet space, you should consider adding a closet organizer.

If wallpaper is out dated or paint is old and chipped, put on a fresh coat especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. Kitchen counters should be clear with just the basic items you need. Make sure faucets shine and don’t leek. Toilets should flush properly and not keep running. Tile or tub liners are in good shape and clean. Repair or replace chipped sinks or tubs. And again keep them neat and free of clutter.

Basements and Attics should be neat and orderly. The furnace and hot water heater should be dusted and accessible. Cracks in the walls that have been patched and don’t leek should be painted.

It doesn’t cost too much to stage the home as well. Pictures, mirrors, pillows and plants can transform a room. You can even rent furniture if you’ve already moved out.

These are just a few of the things you can do with very little expense that will greatly increase the price you get for the house compared to the competition. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve viewed a home where they seller didn’t even bather to vacuum or sweep the floor. I can tell you the offer was low. Seek the advice of your real estate professional, they have seen it all and seem to always have great ideas.

About The Author

Richard Massey is a note broker with United Financial Resources and a real estate investor. You can get more information at http://www.unitedfinancialresources.com or to read more articles go to http://unitedfinancialresources.com/news.html

Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in order to reach a joint agreement. There is no "one size fits all" strategy of negotiating a real estate contract. Many of our clients have been very experienced negotiators, and we have learned a great deal from them, as well as from books on the subject. We would like to share some of our thoughts on negotiating with you:

What do we want to achieve in a negotiation

The best negotiators bring an attitude of high expectations to the table. They are hard on the problem and soft on the people. Letting the seller know what you need, in a clear and reasoned way, is the first step toward getting it. We try to keep all of these goals in mind:

Enable you to move into your new home.

Obtain the lowest possible price for the property.

Close within an acceptable time frame.

Solve any repair issues fairly.

Have no title, survey or loan problems, or solve any that do arise.

Develop a good working relationship with the seller.

Have no future problems after closing.

Is a cooperative or combative approach more effective

Our experience shows that the cooperative style is the most effective and efficient way to complete a transaction. Professional negotiators usually try to preserve the relationship between the parties, and work together to resolve problems. The goal is not to reach an impasse in which neither the sellers nor the buyers needs are met. Buyers sometimes submit a letter to the seller describing why their house is not worth what they are asking, pointing out deficiencies, etc. This almost always backfires, and starts the negotiation off with a defensive seller. It is best to anchor your price to the marketplace, while remaining very complimentary of their home.

How do you work with a combative strategy by a seller or agent

The combative style is sometimes encountered. This strategy includes: negative comments, emotional statements, table pounding, threats to walk out, ego involvement, and stated positioning. Creative solutions and trade offs are not as likely to be found in this environment. Working with a combative style negotiator requires a considered approach:

Do not respond emotionally. An angry or defensive response will escalate the negotiation into a no-win battle.

Do not argue. Arguing usually positions them more strongly and drags the negotiation process off course.

Do not ignore their arguments or statements. Listen carefully, but do not accept or reject.

Firmly anchor pricing and other terms to outside data. Show that the price has not been chosen arbitrarily.

Reduce misunderstanding by following up with written summaries of discussions.

Do not allow hazy or unclear proposals to stand.

Offer some "wins" on some of the terms. Face saving is very important.

Look for ways to meet their underlying interests.

Remember that they may have a beautiful home that satisfies the buyers goals.

Is every point in the contact negotiable

Yes. However, one of the most effective means of coming to an agreement is to rely on consistent standards or norms when possible. For example, it is common practice for the seller to pay for the title policy and for the buyer to pay survey cost. Using accepted standards prevents buyer and seller from haggling over every point. Working within the accepted "norms" for our area helps to legitimize offers, and focus the negotiation on just a few points. On the other hand, all the points in an offer can be used to help structure the deal. They offer trade-off opportunities for both parties to get what they want from the negotiation.

The value of trust in a negotiation cannot be overstated. Most people are fair minded and reasonable. They respond well to respectful treatment and to having their concerns heard. If the seller feels that the buyer and agent are acting with integrity, their attitude will be much more cooperative. Contract negotiation is a sensitive area, and anxiety can be high. The buyers may have had an unpleasant past experience with buying a home. The seller may be under pressure, with future plans at stake Acting with integrity does not mean that all "cards have to be put on the table." It is not proper to discuss personal issues that affect the buyer, such as your financial ability or urgency to move in. It is valuable to develop rapport because trust increases your leverage. Here are ways:

Listen and understand what the seller has to say.

Express appreciation for the sellers home, gardens, decorating.

Respond within a reasonable time to counter offers.

Reassure the seller of your ability to close.

Reveal some personal information about yourselves.

Finding common ground with the seller can be a very powerful tool in the event of multiple offers. I can think of several instances in which sellers selected their contract for very personal reasons. The family reminded them of themselves when they moved in with young children years before. Or, they were both of the same religion. Or, the new owners would care for their gardens.

Understand your leverage.

The more we can find out about the sellers needs, the better chance we have to find solutions to negotiation hurdles. We will be able to offer information or concessions that appeal to the sellers deepest concerns. Obviously, if the house has been on the market for 300 days, you have a lot more leverage than you would with a brand new listing. If their time frame is immediate, and you can meet it, you have some leverage. If they have multiple offers, you have very little leverage!

How much under list price should you offer

Buyers usually offer less than list price, unless it is a strong sellers market. There is no standard percentage "under list price" that can be used. A market analysis will show recent sales for the neighborhood, which is the best way to establish the offer price.

It is usually counter-productive to offer so low that the seller will automatically reject the offer. This will set a negative tone, and may result in an emotional response from the seller.

What if we have a multiple offer situation

Occasionally the seller receives more than one offer on their property. The Austin Board of REALTORS® has a policy that allows two options: disclosure to all parties that multiple offers have been received, or disclosure to no one that there are multiple offers. We prefer disclosure to all parties. However, the listing agent and seller will make the decision as to how they will handle offers. By simply disclosing that there are multiple offers, they are not "shopping" your contract. Shopping occurs when the seller discloses the terms of an offer to induce a buyer to submit a better offer. This can result in major distrust of the process by the parties, and the likelihood of loss of the buyers.

Usually the procedure is to notify each party that multiple offers have been received. Each party is then given the opportunity to raise or adjust his offer by a certain time. After that time, the seller is free to review all offers and choose one to work with. They are not obligated to choose the "first" offer that came in. The selected offer may be countered, or accepted as is.

Roselind Hejl, CRS Top 25 Agents in Austin Texas - Let us help you make your move to Austin. www.weloveaustin.com

About The Author

Roselind Hejl, CRS Top 25 Residential Agents, Austin, Texas - Austin Business Journal Book of Lists www.weloveaustin.com roselind@weloveaustin.com

The Internet has become a valuable source of information and purchasing tool for today’s consumer. With the click of a mouse you can find almost anything from products to services on the web, and you can shop for the best prices and values all hours of the day from the convenience of your own home. For some of these same reasons, mail order businesses are also on the rise with consumers finding better values from companies that don’t have the overhead associated with a storefront.

With everything at the consumers’ fingertips, the home business owner can also benefit from today’s market culture. Just as consumers can shop from their living rooms and kitchens, business owners can conduct business in the convenience of their own homes. If you are looking to set your own hours, have less commuting time, and enjoy the general freedoms of working for yourself, starting a home business may be right for you.

One important business plan to attend to when you first start developing a home business is to invest time in finding your niche.

So what does this mean, finding your niche Identifying a niche is about finding a distinct segment of consumer interest, then capitalizing on it. It means finding that particular spot in the business world where you can stand out amongst others. For example there may be hundreds of booksellers out there, but how many specialize in books on a particular interest of yours If your home business focuses on selling books, you may be competing with the hundreds of other sellers. But if your home business focuses on selling books about outdoor sports, you may find yourself in direct competition with fewer businesses.

Now that you know what a niche is, how do you go about identifying yours You can start by asking your self a few important questions:

What am I good at

Take an inventory of your skills. Are you a good mechanic Are you a wiz with home decorating Do your friends all come to you when they have computer problems to fix Do you know almost everything there is to know about a particular topic Find the things you already have some skill in, and start a list. You may be surprised where your talents lie.

What do I enjoy doing

What things do you love to do so much that you would probably do them whether there was a profit involved or not The best place to start with this question is to look at your hobbies. These are often the things you pay a fairly significant amount of money to be involved in. Why not check it out to see if you can make a profit at these very same things Starting a home business can take a lot of time and effort, and having a passion for the focus of your business can be a great source of the stamina necessary to make it through the difficulties in the beginning.

What is there a need for

After you jot down what you are good at and what you love to do, it’s time to assess the market for these things. Are you always looking for supplies for your hobby, but can’t ever seem to find what you need It’s very likely others are having the same difficulty, and a home business that supplies this need would be very well received by this segment of the market. Or maybe you love to decorate your kids’ birthday cakes, and your neighbors would rather pick theirs up at the local grocery store but can’t stand the small selection. This is a market for which you already have the skills and interest to meet the needs.

-----Side Bar-----

If you are planning to do your business entirely on the Internet, one great tool you can use to check whether there is market for your idea is the Overture Search Term Suggestion Tool: http://inventory.overture.com/d/searchinventory/suggestion/

You simply enter the keyword that people might use to search for your product and it’ll return the number of times that term was searched on last month. Amazing isn’t it

-----Side Bar-----

But don’t be afraid of markets where you may have some skill, but have a lot to learn. As long as you have the willingness to put time and effort into becoming an expert in your niche, you will be able to develop the specialization you need to be a leader in the market.

Once you answer these questions and find the distinct area that will set your business apart from others, you have identified your niche and are ready to develop your home business.

About The Author

Vishal P. Rao is the editor of Home Based Business Opportunities - A website dedicated to opportunities, ideas and resources for starting a home based business. Visit him at: http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com

A relative novice when it came to the Internet, not too long ago I didn’t have a clue where to start when trying to create a website or why I had the need for one. Luckily though, with time and practice, it became apparent.

Having a website has advantages, providing solutions to a wide range of everyday problems. Websites can be used as a personal identity to promote you or what you offer, to the world, be it global, local or personal.

Web hosting, where one puts a web presence and stores it along with pictures, pages and tricks. As a novice I felt the need to have things explained to me in the simplest of terms and I know I’m not alone.

For all those out there who quietly sink into their seats when friends or colleagues start discussing the "Net", I am going to explain to you, what web hosting is. Simply.

The web page. This is a document file, created by a web Editor software such as FrontPage or DreamWeaver. It is your first step, this is the page you will view. It will hold your pictures, your logos, your text, your links to other places and your Internet tricks and fancies.

You then need to create your content, as above, pictures, logos, text etc. Once compiled, as you have with other computer design programs, you need to take the images and web pages and find a web host. This a service provider that offers space for your Net presence.

Now ...once you have negotiated a rent for your presence on the providers land his servers, you will need to "move in". You will be given the key, a secret password and ID that only you will know, which will unlock your "plot" of web presence.

Once you are here, then it is only time you will need for unpacking your gear, and nestling into your web presence. You will be faced with a space to put up your web pages; drag and drop your created web pages; and you will be advised to create a folder called "Images", where you will double click to open, and you will place your pictures, logos, and other images in.

A good tip: take note of the web address, path, http://www.yourdomain.com/images/pic1.gif as you will need this to direct your picture pic1.gif from the images folder to your web page. Also note, that you can direct the image off to another page by applying a hyperlink address to it in your web page-creating software.

This is basically it, once you have gotten this far, you are more advanced than the majority of the world. You have a web presence, you have a folder which looks and acts like any other folder on your computers desktop; in which you have web pages and a folder called "Images"; and finally the images are in the "images" folder. Web hosting is really the selling of virtual space for you to store your websites. There’s really nothing too complicated about it.

Now the decorating is up to you, you can adorn it with pictures and text or in time add automated and smart features; and to provide invitations to your presence warming, promotion of your site you can find help with by searching the Net for "Online Promotion".

About The Author

M6.net http://www.m6.net priyankaa@m6.net

Decorating a baby room is a wonderful opportunity to create a carefree hideaway - a place of slumber and lullabies.

BABY ROOM THEMES…

From Tropical Jungle to Noahs Ark, Teddy Bears to Winnie the Pooh: There are many delightful baby room themes to choose from - any one will spark enthusiasm and generate exciting nursery decorating ideas.

But decorating the baby room can be daunting: Theres so much choice - nursery bedding sets, furnishings, nursery wall décor and accessories of all kinds! Also young children can soon outgrow even the most enchanting baby room themes.

NURSERY DÉCOR…

Co-ordinated nursery bedding sets and matching accessories can make easy work of decorating a baby room, ensuring nursery décor is effective and harmonious.

But mixing and matching presents the opportunity for more imaginative nursery decorating ideas - and its fun! The key to success with mix and match nursery décor is to select elements - baby nursery pictures, fabrics and accessories - that share color and pattern elements.

Basing nursery décor on neutral wall and floor coverings enables endless variations: Keeping baby room decorating ideas flexible makes it easy to adapt to a young childs developing interests.

By changing just the accessories - nursery bedding sets, pictures and rugs - different nursery decorating ideas can be developed without all the upheaval of a major redecorating project. For a while, at least, baby room themes can grow with your child!

COLOR SCHEMES…

Young children love bright primary colors but large areas can be overwhelming. Decorating the baby room with a subtle, calm color scheme is usually a better choice. Introducing warm colors - rose, peach or primrose - into your baby room decorating ideas will help create a feeling of coziness.

While decorating the baby room with the cool colors - aqua, mint or sky blue - can create a feeling of spaciousness. But it is probably best to keep ideas based on this color range for a room with a warm, sunny aspect.

Touches of bright primary colors bring extra interest and visual stimulation. Introducing just small amounts with baby nursery pictures, nursery bedding sets, toys and accessories can transform a room. These are the finishing touches that can bring nursery décor alive!

NURSERY WALL DÉCOR…

From a series of framed art prints to big cheerful posters, a collage of birthday cards to giant stick-ups - nursery wall décor can create an interesting focus and highlight of color.

A special picture may provide inspiration for some great baby nursery ideas and the basis for a subtle color scheme.

Pictures can be used to develop baby room themes, giving them added dimension: Baby nursery pictures of animals can extend a Tropical Jungle theme - Paddington Bear pictures a Teddy Bear theme.

Look for baby nursery pictures that you find inspiring - they can be a valuable source for interesting nursery decorating ideas. But, best of all, good nursery wall décor will help to create a special place that excites whimsical fantasy and imaginative storytelling - the essence of a magical childhood!

About The Author

Writer and designer of elementary educational materials with particular interest in art education. Webmaster of www.NurseryPosters.com suzanne@takingwing.co.uk

Wonderfully simple to do and oh so impressive!

You don’t need a $40 Easter egg decorating kit with pages of instructions to impress your family and guests this Easter – achieve sophisticated elegance with colors taken directly from nature. Simply decorated from a myriad of plants and flowers, you can create a beautiful range of natural colors and textures. Try this technique – it’s simple enough to do with young children.

Ingredients

Gather together eggs, an enamel or stainless steel pot, vinegar, cheesecloth, a rubber band, and plant materials such as onionskins, blueberries, pecan hulls, parsley, beets or dandelions.

Directions

1. To prepare the dye bath, fill a pot with two or three cups of plant material. Barely cover it with water more plant material produces stronger colors. Simmer for at least 30 minutes. Add water and stir as needed. The dyes can be made several days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Strain and heat the dye before using it.

2. Use hard-boiled or blown out eggs. Carefully wash the eggs with soap and water. Allow them to dry. Wipe the eggs with vinegar.

3. To decorate the eggs, moisten small leaves and grasses, one at a time. Press them firmly against the egg. Hold them in place by wrapping the eggs in a six-inch square of cheesecloth or nylon pantyhose. Pull the cloth tight against the egg and secure it with a rubber band. Immerse the egg in a container of warm dye. Some dyes are stronger than others. The process may take only a few moments or several hours. Dyes derived from yellow onionskin, red onionskin, and blueberries all provide quick results.

4. Unwrap the eggs, drain, and let them dry upright.

What a magical and unpredictable process. Each lustrous egg is a unique surprise. Some of our favorites were the results of happy accidents. Enjoy discovering!

You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is:

1. Printed in its full form with no changes

2. Includes an active link

3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to the above contact

4. And the following byline appears at the bottom of each article:

About The Author

About the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website thats jam packed with family ideas, visit http://togetherparenting.com/. info@togetherparenting.com

The weather gets warmer and many of us know this means one thing: yard sales. If you are a crafter, yard sales can be great places to find someone elses castaways and turn them into your treasures.

As a person that loves to do decoupage, I am forever on the lookout for wooden boxes to decoupage. But remember that yard sale bargains can also inspire you to try a craft you havent done before. A baby quilt I found made a great pillow, when I had little practice with sewing projects.

When looking for a find, what should you look for If you can already imagine the object taking on a new life as something else, thats great. But there are plenty of things people have overlooked that with some time and imagination can be objects of beauty in your home.

If it is broken, do you know how to fix it A dresser without knobs only needs new knobs but a dresser without a drawer is going to take some more work. Could you replace the dresser with a wicker basket you pull in and out Could that drawer be replaced with a flat surface you could keep items like a handbag or shoes there Start using your imagination and the solutions will come. Most objects can be recanted, repainted, repolished and reupolstured.

Sometimes with a trash to treasure project you may think it will become one thing and you change your mind halfway through the project. Be open to inspiration. Something may catch your eye and you choose to change the color scheme or the function of the craft.

Trash to treasure crafts can be very chic. Shabby chic as it is called is found in many decorating magazines. You are also doing something good for the environment, by reusing materials.

It is also important to know that not every trash to treasure project works and this doesnt mean it isnt successful. You may succeed in learning a new painting technique or something about quilting. Or you may learn something about what kind of project you do want to put in your living room, or what you really want to create right now. Every project is part of your learning experience as a crafter and an artist.

Some great trash to treasure items include chairs, tables, dressers, vintage cocktail dresses, baby quilts, spools, jewelry boxes, suitcases, costume jewelry, dolls, picture frames, magazines, books and mirrors. You probably can find many more items that begin to inspire you to create something special.

The only challenge about becoming a trash to treasure crafter is then it becomes very hard to actually allow others in your home to throw things out! Happy crafting!

About The Author

Abigail Beal a.k.a. the Gift-wrap Goddess teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers. To subscribe: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CreativeCraftsTeachers/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GiftWrapGoddessWraps/ contact: creativecraftsteachers@yahoo.com giftwrapgoddess@yahoo.com

Junk. We all have some of it lying around the house. Whether its boxed items cluttering the attic or everyday items that just dont fit with the rooms decorating theme anymore, many of us have more than we need. At some point it all gets to be too much and in a fit of energy we decide that our place needs to be cleaned. Then the junk gets moved, typically to the nearest trash can. But wait. Before you throw out all that stuff, it pays to take head of the saying "one persons junk is another persons treasure."

If you are about to throw out something because you think it has little value, you may come to regret it later. Those things that you consider to be trash many times have great value to collectors. If you have an item and have no idea if it has any worth, a quick first step is to head to the online auction sites like eBay. Input the item you have into their search engine. If similar items come up and there are bids on them, then someone out there thinks that the item you were about to trash has some worth.

If you are trying to get rid of a few select items, the online auction sites may be the perfect place. Simply place the item on auction for a minimum price and let others bid away on it. This is where you may find that old, ugly toy you could no longer stand the sight of looks like a perfect jewel to somebody else. You dont even have to know how to list the items yourself anymore since sites like eBay offer services that will match you with someone who will list the auction for you for a small fee.

Even if the item doesnt sell at auction, it still may be worth some money to you. If you have a large number of items that didnt manage to sell on the online auctions, having a garage sale or heading off to sell at a local flea market for a day may bring in some extra cash. This is also a good way of getting rid of those everyday items that still have life, but you are certain are not worth a lot of money.

If you have an item that you suspect has some value, it pays to do a little research before placing it on auction. While the auction sites are a good place to see if something may have worth, they are not a good place to determine what the true value of something. Auctions can easily turn more emotional than sensible, and items may go for far more than their true worth. In the same vein, unique items that may not be familiar to those frequenting the online auctions may sell for far less than their true worth.

If you want to find the general true worth of something, the least expensive alternative is to head to your local library and check out collectible books and price guides on the subject. You can also search for Internet sites dedicated to the particular item in hand that can give you a good approximation of what the item may be worth. Another low cost alternative for those who dont want to take the time researching is to take it to a pawn shop and see if, and how much, the shop would be willing to give you for it. Pawn shops will buy the item for a fraction of its true worth, so if you are offered a decent amount, you know that you have something of value.

For items that you believe may be worth quite a bit such as antiques or if you have a lot of items and want to make sure the gems dont get accidentally placed with the ordinary items, it may be worthwhile to hire an appraiser. Appraisers charge between $150 and $300 an hour and you want to make sure that you get an independent appraiser that has no interest in purchasing the items you are having appraised if the appraiser is interested in the items, he or she will be tempted to lowball their true worth in order to get them for a good price. You can get references for appraisers from organizations like the Appraisers Association of America: http://www.appraisersassoc.org

Even if you are not willing to put in the time and effort for any these events, there is always a better place than the trash can for most items. Simply load them up in your car and take them to a local charitable organization or the larger nationwide organizations like Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Not only will you be extending the life of the item, your donation will entitle you to receive a tax deduction for it if you itemize your tax return, and thats certainly better than getting nothing at all.

Copyright c 2004, by Jeffrey Strain

This article may be freely distributed so long as the copyright, authors information and an active link where possible are included.

A complimentary copy of any newsletter or a link to the site where the article is posted would be greatly appreciated.

About The Author

Jeffrey Strain has published hundreds of money saving articles and the creator of the Daily Money Saving Challenge Program. He is the co-owner of http://www.savingadvice.com -- a website dedicated to saving you money. savingadvice@gmail.com

When you think of incense burners, you probably think of the most common ash catcher style, a flat piece of wood with simple drilled holes to hold the incense. These simple incense burners are classic, and a great way to hold your incense, but there’s a whole world of beautiful and unusual incense burners to choose from.

Incense burners come in every shape, style, and color imaginable. There are incense burners for stick incense, coil incense, and resin incense. You needn’t store incense burners away or hide them in a corner. The burners themselves can be great focal points in your decor. There are incense burner boxes, bowls, statues, bottles, carvings, and hangings. From intricately detailed, to sleek and simple, there’s an incense burner to match your decor and set the perfect mood.

Of course, the most beautiful incense burner is one you can make yourself. Simply choose a heat-resistant bowl in whatever material and design appeals to you most. It can be a simple terra cotta bowl or a detailed carved bowl. Fill the bowl with enough sand to hold up an incense stick. Then decorate by placing any non-flammable material on top of the sand. Seashells, river rocks, and sea glass are all great choices for decorating your incense bowl.

Use the incense burner and the incense together to set the mood. Want a calm, soothing effect to relieve stress Choose sandalwood incense in a lotus flower-shaped burner. Need a pick-me-up for your mind Use a lavender or rosemary scented incense in a burner box which releases the smoke in unique patterns through the top. Feeling irritable Try ocean or spring scented incense in a burner shaped like your favorite animal.

So when you want to set a mood with incense, don’t forget the visual delight added by a great incense burner.

About The Author

Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart http://www.onlinediscountmart.com. Please email the author and include an active link to this website if youd like to use this article. marketing@4intrepid.com

Would you like to add a personal touch to your home or office, but not sure how Picture frames may be your answer. Picture frames are a fun and simple way to add color, character and style.

Decorating with picture frames is fun and simple. To add a splash of color to a shelf or mantle choose a series of similar frames in coordinating colors, such as three shades of green. To set a theme in the bedroom stick with one basic color and two or three styles of frames, such as silver or pewter antique-style frames. Or to make a dramatic statement on a wall choose one bold color, such as black or deep red, and identical picture frames, such as simple squares. No matter what look you’re trying to achieve, group picture frames together for impact.

Once you’ve decided on a style, it’s easy to find the perfect picture frames. Department stores and home decorating stores are a good place to start. But don’t forget about antique stores, flea markets, yard sales and thrift stores. These are all great places to find unique picture frames. Look for unique picture frames with beveled glass, unusual shapes, or matching sets.

Picture frames also make wonderful gifts and keepsakes. Decorate picture frames with silver charms, crystal beads, or grandma’s antique costume jewelry to make a special keepsake. Create a family display of picture frames by adding a detail to each picture frame that reflects each family member’s personality or hobby. For example, add a golf detail to dad’s picture frame, a fishing detail to grandpa’s picture frame, and a gardening detail to mom’s picture frame. Scrapbooking supply stores are perfect places to find unique items to add to picture frames. Just imagine the items on a frame, or inside on the matting, instead of on a scrapbook page. There’s no limit to the details you can add to a picture frame.

Whether you’re creating a keepsake or brightening up a shelf, picture frames are one of the most fun and versatile decorating accessories available.

About The Author

Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart http://www.onlinediscountmart.com. Please email the author and include an active link to this website if youd like to use this article. marketing@4intrepid.com

A family memory journal is a fun, easy way to preserve family memories. A couple of years ago I was sorting through a pile of unused journals many given to me as presents! and was trying to come up with a way to put them to good use.

One day after a family gathering, I sat down and wrote a short description of the gathering in one of the unused journals. I wrote where the gathering took place, the occasion we were celebrating, the names of the people who had attended, and anything about the day that had stood out in my memory. I did this for the next couple of family get togethers and then just stuck the journal in a drawer somewhere.

It didnt seem like that big of deal at the time, but probably a year or more later I pulled out the journal again and looked at the entries I had made. It was really fun reading them again. I had already forgotten some of the things that had happened, or thoughts that I had at the time that fortunately I had thought to write down.

Ive been really forgetful about writing in my family memory journal, but in the past couple of years have probably chronicled two or three family events a year. When you think about it, 25 years from now, the journal will be full of family memories.

Family journals are a great thing to pass down to your children and grandchildren. At the time they dont really care about whats going on, but some day they will appreciate being reminded of some of their childhood memories.

In the past year or so Ive really gotten into scrapbooking. I was just thinking that my memory journal will be a great resource for my scrapbooking projects. Sometimes it takes months to get your photos ready and pages laid out. By that time you will forget any memories you had to go along with them. If you have your family memory journal, you can use it to add journaling to your scrapbook pages, with your memory as clear as if you had taken the pictures yesterday.

Dont let time pass you by and let those special family moments get away from you. Sometimes an event as routine as "another family birthday party" might make a great memory later in life. Especially when older relatives start passing away, its special remembering the times they were involved in family get togethers. Someday when youre that older person, your youngest family members will enjoy reading about their great- and great-great grandparents.

About The Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of Whats for Dinner, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For recipes, tips to organize your home, home decorating, crafts, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com. Email: rachel@creativehomemaking.com

Halloween is an exciting night for children and a busy time for their parents. With such excitement, it’s easy for children to forget basic safety rules.

When emotions are running high, it’s a good time to remember to “use your head.” Plan ahead and plan to have a safe Halloween. Raise safety awareness with your family before the festivities begin. We do the right thing, but we don’t always explain it to children. As you place a saucer under each tea light, or “stop, look and listen” at street corners and in parking lots, tell your child why. They don’t always connect the dots unless you point it out.

Here are some Halloween Safety Tips to keep in mind:

1. Stay sober and alert.

It’s amazing how many family Halloween celebrations involve adults drinking. It’s impossible to monitor children’s safety or your own when you’ve had too much to drink, so don’t.

2. Avoid cuts and burns when decorating.

Carving the pumpkin, placing luminaria in the driveway, and hanging spooky skeletons all present opportunities for injury. If you’re decorating with candles, observe fires safety. Have a good fire extinguisher handy and make sure everyone knows where it is.

3. Observe ladder safety regulations.

According to the NASD, accidents involving ladders cause an estimated 300 death a year in the US, and 130,000 injuries requiring medical attention. Review ladder safety rules and observe them.

4. Make sure “treats” aren’t “tricks.”

Many people these days choose to go to fairs or private parties instead of trick or treating for safety reasons. If your child is going trick or treating, go with them. Make it a rule that nothing is to be eaten until it’s first been inspected by you.

5. Caution your child about strangers and dogs.

Keep your children with you and remind them to avoid people and dogs they don’t know. Many people are taking their dog companions out in costume these days, and even the most gentle of family pets can do something unexpected with all the excitement.

6. Accidental falls is the number one cause of injuries on Halloween night National Safety Council.

Choose your child’s costume with this in mind. Hem up the hemlines. If you choose a mask, choose one that doesn’t obstruct sight. Stay sober and observe safety rules when decorating.

7. Four times more children are killed in pedestrian/automobile accidents on Halloween night than on any other night of the year.

The CDC suggests these factors make it a high risk: short stature, inability to react quickly enough to avoid a car or evaluate a potential traffic threat, lack of impulse control, and all the exciting distractions.

8. The holiday syndrome.

The excitement, more candy, more parties, less sleep, less nutritious food, and getting off schedule all mean less attentiveness and also possibly illness. Keep routines as normal as you can.

9. Choose safe and sensible costumes.

Choose fire retardant costumes that allow children free movement and good visibility. Be careful about accessories. Even toy knives and swords can cause harm. Give each child a flashlight.

10. Set a good example.

Show that you care about safety and make it a top priority.

About The Author

© Susan Dunn, MA, Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc. Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Career, relationships, transition, midlife. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free ezine. sdunn@susandunn.cc

What exactly is fall Being my favorite season, I decided to look it up and see how Mr. Webster defines it. Flipping to “fall” I found “autumn”, ok turning to that here is what it says, “autumn, the season that comes between summer and winter”. Well, that’s pretty cut and dry and I think most of us already know that, so here is my interpretation.

“Autumn; cool days leading into brisk nights. Fresh picked apples, leaves ablaze with color, pumpkins, gourds, Halloween, Thanksgiving and a brand new opportunity to decorate your home”.

I’m not sure about you, but one of the reasons I love the fall is that with the cooler temperatures, I seem to have a renewed energy level. Daily activities are suddenly not such an effort. Think about the things you can do with this newfound energy. Giving your home a good cleaning - after all who wants to do that when it’s 90° and the humidity level is so high it feels like it could rain inside your home - sorting through and discarding unwanted items in closets, drawers and cupboards. Admiring mother natures magnificent color show while taking walks with the family or a favorite four-legged fur baby.

As mentioned above, this is also an opportunity for change in your homes décor. Now I’m not talking about a complete redo, just adding accessories that are fall related is all that’s needed.

Changing your window treatments from light summery fabrics and colors to something with a heavier texture and darker color is one quick way to warm up a room for fall.

Add some warm throws over the back or arms of the furniture, change out the accent pillows to something with a fall print or warmer colors, even just one or two pillows can make a difference.

Swap out summer flower arrangements for new ones that have a fall theme. Take a walk around your yard or in a neighborhood park or state forest and look for things to use, like unusual shaped twigs, pinecones, acorns and seedpods. Mixing these with store bought silk mums, preserved leaves or cat -o-nine tails in any type of container you may have will give a fall look to any surface.

Hang a grapevine wreath adorned with colorful mums on your door, or how about using the wreath as a centerpiece. Lay it in the middle of any table and place a ceramic or even real pumpkin in the middle.

Speaking of pumpkins, purchase a few - real or not - and spread them around your home both inside and out. Combine them with colorful gourds, apples, silk mums, leaves or berry vines in bowls or baskets for a festive look.

Take a look around local discount and craft stores for artificial fruit. The advantage to these is once this season has passed they can be packed away until needed again next year, so this makes for a very economical and savvy investment.

Scent is another indication of the fall season. Candles and potpourri in fall fragrances like pumpkin; spiced apple or cider will make walking into your home a wonderful experience. Below are a couple of favorites of mine.

Potpourri - “Natures Own Potpourri”, located in Tennessee, I have used many different brands and this is by far the best. Some of my favorite scents are: Apple Tree, American Harvest & Country Retreat.

Candles – Village Candle Factory Store, located in Topsham Maine. I’ve been burning candles for many years and these are my absolute favorite. As for the smell, well all I can say is yummmmm. Favorite scents consist of: Crisp Apple, Spiced Pumpkin, Mulled Cider & Gingerbread.

How ever you decide to celebrate and decorate for fall, stay warm, get comfortable and settle in while you wait for the next season to visit.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating: bonnie@savvy-home-decorating.com

“Big Things Come In Small Packages” We’re all familiar with this quote, it’s normally associated with gifts not home decorating, but it should be.

A one or two bedroom house, apartment, condo or townhouse can be just as impressive and grand as something with fifteen bathrooms, Wow, imaging having to clean all those, I have enough trouble with two.

One interesting things I have found from past experience is that decorating a smaller place is actually easier, not to mention less expensive.

Whether your currently living in a small space or downsizing – that’s another one of those trendy “buzz” words, which simply means your moving into something smaller – planning how your going to decorate or redecorate is a good idea.

You may think because it’s smaller, having large pieces is out of the question. Not true, having oversized furniture is not going to make your rooms appear smaller, what it will do is give a warm inviting feeling. Of course the layout and size of a room will determine how many pieces can comfortably go into it. After all, you may be looking for drama and comfort, but you still need to be able to maneuver around.

This also applies to accessories; it’s better to have a few large dramatic pieces as opposed to a lot of small items, which can tend to turn into clutter and dust collectors. The exception to this would be with collections. But again you want to have places to showcase them like glass front hutches, cabinets, bookcases or shelves.

Another decorating challenge can be in warming up your new place. This normally can easily be achieved by adding color with paint. Now that’s all fine and good unless you happen to be renting and your landlord say’s “Paint, oh no”. That’s ok; color can be added in a number of other ways. Several examples: Window treatments Furniture fabric Accent pillows Area rugs Wall art Plants & Flowers

Storage can be another issue in a smaller space, there just never seems to be enough. If you’re buying new furniture or deciding on which pieces to bring from your current home, look for ones that can perform double duty.

For example:

Instead of the standard coffee table, look for one with a flip top or shelves underneath. Cedar chests, blanket chests or trunks can also be substituted.

Place an armoire intended for the bedroom in the living room it’s the perfect storage place for remotes, magazines, extra bedding, kitchen linen or any of those pesky little things you just can’t seem to find a place for.

A small floor cabinet you might have used in a bathroom can become an end table. Most of these come with drawers, shelves or both.

Decorative stacking boxes or even old suitcases not only make for great storage, but the also become terrific accessories.

Plastic storage boxes come in a variety of sizes, colors and are inexpensive. They can be stacked on shelves in a closet or cabinet, even into drawers. Clear smaller sizes are perfect storage for shoes, winter gloves, pictures or how about extension cords, nails, packages of hooks or hand tools. Larger sizes can keep extra winter coats, blankets, odd season clothes or seasonal decorations neat and in one place.

Baskets and hampers are another option.

Kids rooms are always in need of extra places for all their treasures, plastic milk crates are perfect for them. They come in many bright brilliant colors. One suggestion, if you are planning on stacking the crates and have small children it would be beneficial to secure them to the wall.

Plastic shelving units, which can be found in most discount stores, are perfect for mounting on the backs of doors or on the wall in closets. These come in especially handy in the kitchen for holding extra soda bottles, canned goods, paper towel etc.

Well, I think you’ve gotten the idea, look around and use your imagination; you will be surprised with what you can come up with.

Moving into and decorating a small space can be challenging, but with a little planning it can be just a beautiful as any large house. And in the end size really doesn’t matter, if it’s filled with the people and things you love, then you have successfully created a home.

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2004 bonnie carrier.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating:

Home decorating, ever wanted to try it, but hesitated because of time constraints or budget concerns. The following ideas will not only give instant results, but more importantly fit into any budget.

1. Changing the Look of Your Walls

Adding a new color or changing the texture, can give the room a completely new appearance and that may be the only decorating change that is necessary. The easiest option is to paint, and with the color choices available, the possibilities are endless. Another consideration would be wallpaper; the only problem you may have is choosing a design. If on the other hand, only a little something extra is needed a simple stencil design might just do the trick. Any of these ideas can be used either individually or in combination with each other.

2. Look to Your Windows For a Whole New View

Changing your window treatments is probably the easiest of any home decorating projects. The choices range from styles that include drapes, tab-top, cafe and shears, backgrounds of solid colors, floral and stripes, fabrics that include silk, cotton, lace or velvet. The most economical is ready-made; they are very affordable therefore giving you the opportunity to make changes more often.

3. Accessories Make Your Decorating Complete

Some of the more common are area rugs, wall art, lamps, pillows and cozy throws. Items for the kitchen make beautiful additions, for example; canisters, dinnerware, dishtowels or decorative bottles filled with oils and vinegar. Add a little whimsy with oversized ceramic figures like roosters, or the adorable pigs holding chalkboard menus. Bathrooms are another area for pretty accessories like decorative soaps placed in a bowl or basket; towels come in so many colors and designs now that they alone make great accessories. Last but not least do not forget candles and bowls of potpourri.

4. Collectibles Bring a Personal Touch to Home Decorating

Collectibles can be anything involving three or more of the same thing, or items that are related. This can include porcelain dolls, Christmas villages, collector plates and who can resist those adorable little faces of Boyds Bears. Maybe items with a nostalgic feel like tin lunchboxes, cookie jars or salt & peppershakers stir up special memories of childhood.

5. Updating Your Furniture

One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is with slipcovers; they come in a large variety of colors and patterns. Pieces like end tables, hutches or even a dinning table and chairs can be refinished for a new look. One way is with paint. Pick a color to coordinate with your room or choose something bright and whimsical. Another option would be to use stain, stains come in a multitude of shades; they can also come in colors.

So, if you are ready to give some decorating a go, try these basic changes to start. Over time, more things can be changed but for right now, simple changes can make a big difference.

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2004 bonnie carrier.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating:

Originally this was going to be a list for my two teenagers but some of these ideas are better suited to adults with a valid drivers license and a bit of know-how. Some of these take a bit of planning and organizing, but most of them could be done on a fairly spur of the moment case by case basis. The great thing about a lot of these ideas is that youre spreading holiday cheer by helping to make someone elses otherwise stressful and overwhelming to-do list a little bit easier. Who wouldnt pay to have someone come do a few of these things for you Mostly, whats important is that you remember to provide a quality item or service to the buyer with a smile on your face and in your heart. Have fun with these!

1. Baby-sit for people who need to do some Christmas shopping without their little ones tagging along. Anyone trustworthy who is over the age of about thirteen or fourteen can do this one. Its hectic enough to get in and out of the malls and shopping centers without having to drag toddlers along. Contact friends, family, coworkers, and members of your spiritual community to let them know that youre available for holiday babysitting. This can include time that the parents need to get away for office parties, charity events, and volunteering to help the elderly and less fortunate members of their community.

2. Grab a ladder and offer to clean leaves out of your neighbors gutters. Many people are so busy during the summer months that they completely forget to clean all of the debris from their gutters when the sun is out and its dry outside. Its cold and yucky outside now and many people are too busy to get to it themselves. Theyll probably be glad that you offered and they can check it off of their to-do lists. This isnt one for the younger kids. However, they can offer to rake up the leaves in their neighbors yards. Adults could offer to do both the gutters and the yard as one big project for a nice reasonable price. It could also be a father & son side business that you do together - while dad cleans the neighbors gutters, junior rakes up the leaves in the lawn.

3. Bake something amazing and offer to sell it to your friends and coworkers so they wont have to do their own holiday baking. You probably have to be careful about selling your baked goods to professional organizations and such, but you could do some sideline baking to help out your friends, neighbors, and coworkers who are going to be entertaining guests over the holidays and simply wont have the time to do their own baking. Have you got an awesome recipe that stands out as everyones absolute favorite Its the hit of every potluck Make up some tiny sample sizes or bring it in to the office break room and serve up samples to your potential clients. Then while their mouths are watering, tell them that for a fee youll bring them one to their home the day before their guests are to arrive. Youll have to work out the scheduling and cost of ingredients and such, but this could be a fun way to make some money and spread some serious joy. The hostess will be so pleased when she pulls your work of art out of the fridge and her guests ooh and ah over the scrumptious homemade dessert she didnt even have to bake herself.

4. Offer to collect peoples empty soda cans and cash them in. My son raised almost $300 last spring doing this so that he could go to a training course to become a camp counselor for the little kids at our church. He went door to door offering to do yard work and most people just handed him bags and bags of pop cans they didnt want to take the time to cash in. He collected most of them over one weekend and then cashed them all in the following weekend. We live really close to a grocery store where he could walk to cash them in, so I didnt even have to get my car dirty with sticky soda drippings! This is a really good one for the younger kids to do.

5. Sell something on eBay. I know a number of people who make a decent second income all year round by digging around for antiques and such from the Goodwill and then fixing them, cleaning them up, and selling them for a much higher price on eBay. You have to know what to look for, but these folks will pick up an old pair of stereo speakers for $10 or $15 and then sell them on eBay for $200. The customer pays for shipping. You can also do this through garage sales, flea markets, and estate sells too. Most of the time and work goes into hunting for the cool treasures that someone will want to purchase.

6. Hang up peoples outdoor Holiday lights for them. As a single mom, I would have loved it if someone had come to my house and hung the Christmas lights on my house for me. My children always wanted us to decorate the outside of the house and I hated not being able to do that for them. I didnt know the first thing about how to go about hanging them up. I didnt even own a ladder! So, I would think that you could go around offering to hang up peoples outdoor holiday lights for a fee. It they are like me and dont even have lights but want to get some, you could offer your expertise as to which kind to buy and where to get the best prices and such.

7. Grab a broom or a shovel and offer to clean the neighborhood sidewalks. This is another good one for the younger teens. Theres always sidewalks that need swept or shoveled. And theres always someone too busy or too tired to do it themselves.

8. Work a second job as seasonal help at one of the department stores in the mall. Most of the major department stores hire extra help in October or November so they can have them fully trained by the time the really busy holiday shopping season kicks in. They are kept on until after the inventory counts are done in January. Then most are let go if they havent quit already. Those who have proven themselves to be quality employees will often be asked to stay on longer.

9. Sell something at holiday bazaars. I suspect that you have to get these kinds of events lined up ahead of time with a bit of preplanning and such, but plenty of folks make a decent seasonal income by selling cool arts and crafts type items at those holiday bazaars. Often a percentage of the sales goes towards a fundraiser, but you still make enough to make it worth your time and energy to create the art and to hang out at the art shows.

10. Sell your plasma. We all know how important it is to donate blood during the holidays, but many people dont know that you can get paid for sitting through a procedure quite similar to the donation process. The difference is that they run your blood through a machine that separates the plasma from the red blood cells and puts the red blood cells back into your body. It take longer and I guess thats why they are willing to pay you for your time. Years ago, I used to do this when my kids were really little and we needed some extra money for upcoming birthdays and such. They wouldnt let you do it more than once a week or so and they only paid about $25 each time, so you had to plan ahead if you were going to raise $100 or $200 for something you wanted to purchase. Contact your local Red Cross or other blood donation centers for help finding the plasma centers.

11. Clean houses for others who have holiday guests coming. Typically, if someone has out of town guests coming for the holidays, they have a lot more on their to-do list then just cleaning their toilets and shampooing the carpets. You could become a real lifesaver for those in a crunch who are too busy, too old, or too tired to do a thorough deep cleaning before the guests arrive. Some might even hire you again to clean up after the guests leave too! Teens can do this just as easily as the adults can.

12. Run errands and do odd holiday jobs like wrapping gifts or delivering packages to the post office. You could start a little side business where all you do is run other peoples errands for them. Drop off and pick up the dry cleaning. Take their pet to the vet. Deliver cupcakes to the charity fundraiser. Pick up a handful of gift certificates from national department stores that will later be mailed out. Address and stamp their Christmas cards for them. Do their grocery shopping. Pick up new printer cartridge and some desk calendars for them. Its all of those tiny little errands that make for frazzled schedules and crazy timelines. For a fee, you could do it for them.

13. Decorate the inside of peoples homes or offices for the holidays. You dont have to be a professional interior decorator to be helpful. If youve got a reputation as having a good eye for attractive and festive decorating, you can help others to set up their trees, hang garland, and place some nice poinsettia here and there. You can help make peoples homes and their office space a warm inviting environment and also include coming back after the holidays to break it all down into to storage containers as part of the deal. I hate tearing down the decorations and would love to pay someone to put it all back away!

14. Cater some dinners for the extremely busy shoppers or for Holiday parties. Those who are not awesome cooks need not apply for this one! Lets say that your boss is having the annual company Christmas party at his house and his wife is swamped with running kids back and forth to choir concerts and peewee football camp while shopping and planning for her in-laws who will be flying in to visit only three days after her husbands company party at her house!!! You could offer to cook and cater the event for her. Youd once again be making someone elses holiday season so much easier while earning extra money for yourself. Decide in advance on a menu and whos purchasing the ingredients needed. Then all you have to come up with is a dollar figure for your time and grandmas secret recipe for those little mini-cakes that everyone loves so much.

15. Chauffer someones children to and from school and other activities so the parents have some free time. This isnt quite the same as babysitting. Youd be amazed at how much time a person can spend picking up and driving two or three kids to different events and hauling musical instruments and sporting gear from one event to the next. You could simply run a taxi service for children and teenagers who need rides from point A to B. You dont have to hang out and watch them once they get there. Just make sure they arrive on time. Even just having an afternoon at home to cook and clean house while someone else gathers up all of the kids and brings them all home could make a world of difference for someone.

As you can see, some of these services could easily be turned into a year-round side job or they could be dropped as soon as the holidays are over. Perhaps youll find that you love catering peoples meals, you love refurbishing antiques, or you love running errands and taxiing others around from place to place. You could go into business for yourself and by next year, you could quit your real job and be happily self-employed. Then again, your teenager could discover how much time and work it takes just to raise enough money for some generous Christmas shopping. After learning the value of a dollar earned, they might decide that college is a good idea after all!

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrows Edge

About The Author

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrows Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. She became a writer in 1999 after twenty years of studying spirituality, metaphysics, astrology, personal growth, motivation, soulmates, and parenting. Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. To read more of her articles and to sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net. To download free previews of her books, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.

Skye@TomorrowsEdge.net

Years of having to make do have turned me into a…"There must be someway I can do this cheaper type person."

My old new house needs total make over. We are thinking about moving into my MILs house. So I am walking around looking and thinking, my goodness, this will be way too much to do and then the old, "There must be someway I can do this cheaper type person" kicks in and I think, yah, there must. Copyright Caroline Shaw

First curtains need to be put up on the windows. I will check all of Grandmas fabric…and she has tons, and see if some of it can be salvaged for window treatments. Gee, today all you really need is a nice wooden Venetian blind and a swag or scarf.

I am thinking about sticking with the umbers I see outside this time of year November. I already bought my border for the kitchen at a B&B we went to a couple of weeks ago, and it kind of has a sultry tone to it. You can do the same thing with fabric. Just take a quick trip to Wal-marts fabric Dept. They are always getting rid of material at bargain prices. If you are doing a dining room for Thanksgiving, do swags/scarf for the windows and a table cloth, placemats and napkins.

It really wouldnt take as long as you think. Put up some lace curtains and make a scarf from the fabric you use for your table cloth..or maybe you have a plain white table cloth already available. Just make a runner that matches your window scarves,napkins and placemats.

Now what about the centerpiece I like this idea on about.com http://interiordec.about.com/cs/fallindex/l/blfallpr011.htm Just has some greens and Fall leaves, candles…well, take a look: The Centerpiece, Its one where you can just remove the fall leaves and replace with berries for Christmas. Saving time is what its all about. Put up some wreaths on the doors and over the mantle. A simple grape vine with dried flowers in fall tones is nice. Use some wire ribbon to make a bow.

Put up plain candlesticks with fall colored candles and dont forget the whole theme of Thanksgiving is giving thanks for our bounty. Use displays of fruit and gourds, pumpkins and mums. Get out an old watering can and fill it with leaves to place on the porch, any old galvanized buckets Put wheat or tall dried grass display in your bucket. Dont forget the grapes. Take a nice glass pedestal compote and cascade different varieties.

If you have a garden, pile the days garden harvest into a wheel barrow at the back door.

Just remember …you dont have to use all these ideas. You dont want to have to take all this down to prepare for Christmas thats just around the corner.

Complete Thanksgiving Menu and Recipes by Lorrie Ann Danner http://amomslove.com/hg-recipes-thanksgiving.html

About The Author

Caroline Shaw holds a B.S. degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA in Secondary Education, English. She is a mom to six children. She is Editor and Publisher of the Online Magazine,"A Moms Love." Each issue contains informative articles for WAHMs, their children, single moms, working moms, and more. She lives with her husband, three "still at home" children, a collie, an australian shepherd and two kitties in Western Pennsylvania. Her hobbies are writing, cooking, gardening, decorating and crafts. http://www.amomslove.com

mom@amomslove.com

Toile fabric is the most beautiful and elegant of all the different types of fabric. Toile fabric is named after a fabric that was made in France in the early 19th century. Most Toile fabric features complex drawings on simple backgrounds, such as complex drawings of roses over a simple blue background. While Toile is mostly used on fabric, it is also possible to buy child fabric Toile wallpaper or Toile drapery fabric. Toile may be used in contemporary settings but is best suited to formal traditional decorating schemes. Its busy patterns work best in large expanses, which allow the patterns to fade into the background a bit. In small spaces, a large toile pattern can be overwhelming. However, it is possible to find specially made Toile fabric for small places.

Tips on finding cheap Toile Fabric.

Even Toile fabric is usually a little expensive, it is still possible to find inexpensive Toile fabric. Try checking a store that has fabric toile wholesale along with other discount fabrics. Be aware that it is possible to find child fabric toile for young children that are much less expensive than the normal kind. Also, be aware that some types of Toile fabric are very delicate and should be handled with care. If you find Toile fabric that is inexpensive, you will be able to enjoy the wonderful designs and great art for many years to come.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-fabric-4u.com/

Walk through any toy store and you will see walls and walls of toys that are loud -- toys that require batteries, have flashing lights, or that look like your childs favorite movie character. What about those of us who want to raise children with imagination and curiosity Ill tell you what we do. We choose to fill our houses with some of the following old-fashioned items.

Books

No house can have enough books. Make sure your house has a representation of great fiction Books and non-fiction books. A mix of the two is very important.

Most homes have a deficit of non-fiction books, so make sure your home is filled with Science, History and Art books. Children need to learn to read and appreciate non-fiction books in order to do well in research when they reach higher levels of study.

Felt Boards

Children love to tell stories with felt. Youll need a felt board to start. You can make your own board from a sheet of felt or purchase a board.

Once you have the board, let the fun begin.

StoryTeller, at http://www.felt4fun.com, has a great line of products -- felt sets, felt books, and so much more. The quality of their products is excellent. Visit their site to get a sample and feel the thick felt yourself. Be sure to check out the dolls with the felt clothing that sticks to them. My daughter loves these!

Also, go to a craft or fabric store and buy sheets of felt in all colors. Then, cut out shapes in all colors and sizes. Youll be amazed at how quickly a child will make an alien, ship, house, or person out of nothing but a few circles, rectangles, and triangles.

Blocks and Legos

Children can play for hours building towers, bridges, cities, creatures, and more with these toys that inspire creativity, patience, and small-motor skills. When the masterpiece is finished, have your child pretend to be a giant and smash through the blocks!

Art Supplies

Give your child some crayons, scissors, junk mail, and glue. He or she will be entertained for hours if given encouragement. Please SUPERVISE closely if you dont want your child to have a self-induced bad haircut or attach the dog to her artwork!

Puppets

Make puppets out of socks, paper bags, felt, cloth, or popsicle sticks. Make a stage and tell stories. Get out the video camera and capture your childs brilliance!

Musical Instruments

Whether your musical instruments are home-made with a comb and wax paper or store bought, making music is a wonderful way to spend the day. Teach your child that music can be made from anything, from an old oatmeal container, to scratching two pieces of sandpaper together. Go on a walk and just listen to the sounds of the world -- music is everywhere in our lives.

Dress-up Clothes

Get out old prom dresses, big hats, shirts and ties, old Halloween costumes or buy extra pieces after Halloween for year-round fun!. Bring out a box of costumes and watch the shows that your children put on for you. Keep a camera handy to capture the fun. Also, keep an eye on the pets. Cats dont always appreciate wearing a sombrero. Trust me, I have the scars to prove it!

Doll-houses

There is nothing more fun than watching your child make up stories as the family members move around in a doll house. Plus, if it is a wooden dollhouse, there is the added benefit of decorating it with some wallpaper scraps and carpet remnants! Your dollhouse could be a family heirloom if you put enough love into it.

In the Kitchen

Kids love to play Kitchen, when it is mixing air, or getting to play with food. Give your child a great time by giving them safe kitchen utensils to play with in the bathtub. Mixing, pouring, and scooping bubbles and water entertains my children long enough for them to look pruny. Or for a fun alternative, give them puffed rice cereal and some bowls and utensils on the kitchen floor. Just plan to vacuum afterwards as therell be quite a wonderful mess!

About The Author

Nicole Dean is a mom whose life centers around exposing her children to all the wonders of the world. She is owner of http://www.ShowMomTheMoney.com -- a fun and exciting site to help Moms succeed in Business, Family and Life.

Copyright 2004 by Nicole Dean All Rights Reserved

Permission is granted for you to copy this article for distribution as long as the above copyright and contact information is included. Please include a link to www.ShowMomTheMoney.com.

The annual holidays can be a very stressful time for your cat. This is the time of the year when that strange tree goes up, bright trinkets are hung but all your cat hears is “No, no, bad kitty!” when she tries to explore them, delicious food is prepared cats need not apply to eat it!, and lots of strange people come tramping into the house.

Some cats are in their glory, being in the middle of the tree decoration tradition, while others react to differences in the household by cowering in fear. Plus, if the holidays stress you out raise your hand if they don’t; the rest of us would like to know your secret, it’ll be communicated to kitty, and she may react in kind. And sometimes that fear and stress manifests itself in your cat urinating outside her litter box.

Here are three steps you can do to reduce holiday stress for your cat.

First, keep the household changes to a minimum. Think about where you might put the Christmas tree. If you put the tree in a place that normally belongs to kitty, she could be mighty upset with you. Her reaction could range from hiding for days to urinating underneath the tree, if not trying to pull it down. Look for a location that pleases both the human and animal population in your house. If that’s not possible, and knowing how cats can be, you’ll have to settle for pleasing one or the other. My bet is it’s whoever pays the bills.

My cat Scout thinks the Christmas tree is a new litter box location. She’ll urinate on the tree cover. That’s a treat to clean! I have to keep a plastic liner under the tree to facilitate the clean up. I make double certain to keep all the litter boxes clean, but she feels a need to express herself creatively at this time of the year. It’s her way to contributing to the tree decorating tradition.

Next, if you own a scaredy kitty, confine her to a safe room when hosting holiday events in your home. If possible, confine your kitty in a place that guests won’t stumble in. Put her food, water, and a clean litter box in the room. Stop in from time to time to reassure her that it’s alright. If there aren’t adequate hiding spots in her room, think about putting a box or large paper bag in with her, and encourage her to burrow in it.

Finally, purchase some natural flower essence compounds to put in her food or water all during the holiday season. There are several good remedies that are recommended for situational stress. Add a few drops in kitty’s food or water twice a day, and you’ll see results within 24 hours. Flowering essences are also safe for human consumption, so if you’re contemplating a fall into insanity, take a few drops yourself!

You can also purchase synthetic hormone substances that come pre-packaged in a bottle that plugs into any electrical outlet in your home. This remedy lasts approximately a month.

Good luck, and happy holidays to you and your family – humans and animals!

About The Author

Nancy E. Wigal www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com nancy@cat-urine-odor-advisor.com

I’m a cat lover who has had cats since childhood. Quite a few of these wonderful creatures are available for adoption because they dont use the litter box, and the previous owner has grown frustrated trying to solve the inappropriate elimination problem.

I have one of those cats, and Ive successfully discovered the reasons why she wouldnt use her box. I created the Cat Urine Odor Advisor to help cat owners understand the materials, solutions, and resources that work together to eliminate cat urine odor from their homes.

It’s your home/your apartment and you want to make it a special sanctuary this Christmas. How can you create a special place for your family and you Well, we already have our centerpiece…see November’s issue http://www.amomslove.com/hol-thanksgiving-decorate.html. Just replace candles and flowers. But how can you make your place shine with love and holiday spirit

Your dining room table can have a nice Christmas cloth or runner. Replace the fall curtain scarf with Christmas co-ordinates to match your table cloth or runner. Look around your yard for any berries that you might use in your centerpieces. Be careful that little ones don’t put these in their mouths. Make a wreath for your door using a grapevine base and ivy you might have growing around the yard….place berries strategically around the circle. Make a bow of fine vines and place in the center, a couple of pine cones. What a unique heart warmer for your guests to enter your sanctuary by.

At the doorway, hallway, foyer, greet your guests with cinnamon sticks and and cloves stuck in oranges and apples placed in a wooden bowl on a hallway table. Cover the table with a plaid green and red cloth. Your kitchen can have all the smells of holiday cooking http://www.amomslove.com/hg-recipes-christmas01.html. Place a nice lantern in the window to remind us of those guests who couldn’t make it. Have a plate of finger foods for your guests. Simple things will do like a nice wooden bowl of cashews or give your guests something to do: serve pistachios.

Need something for the kids to do Take tag paper and cut out a Christmas tree shape that is about 24 inches tall. Put it on a bulletin board, then make two different sized ornament patterns for the kids to use and have them trace ornaments on more tag paper. Let the kids cut the ornaments out. Take crayons and markers and decorate a couple to model how to decorate them for the kids. Provide some glue sticks and let the kids glue their ornaments on their very own tree.

In your living room or family room, create a warm feel with plaid coverlets thrown across your couches and chairs. If you have a mantel, string some berries into a garland….or use cranberries. Place wooden candlestick holders and white candles. Place ivy around the base….a very simple but elegant presentation.

After dinner have pie with coffee and tea. Pass out some carols and sing together. If you have a musical instrument, this would be a great time to accompany your guests. You can print some carols ahead of time. Make them into little booklets using old Christmas cards for covers. CHRISTMAS-CAROLS.NET - Rejoice in the Christmas Spirit!

Serve some spiced cider:

1 gallon of Apple Cider

10 cinnamon sticks

Some whole cloves about 10

Simmer on top of stove for about 15 minutes and strain into some nice Seasonal mugs.

Enjoy your family and don’t forget to take photos. Merry Christmas!

About The Author

Caroline Shaw, Pittsburgh, PA mom@amomslove.com http://www.amomslove.com Caroline Shaw holds a B.S. degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA in Secondary Education, English. She is a mom to six children. She is Editor and Publisher of the Online Magazine,"A Moms Love." Each issue contains informative articles for WAHMs, their children, single moms, working moms, and more. She lives with her husband, three "still at home" children, a collie, an australian shepherd and two kitties in Western Pennsylvania. Her hobbies are writing, cooking, gardening, decorating and crafts.

Christmas memories are never dependent on the amount of money spent or the popularity of the toy. Memories are made up of amount of heart invested and given. This year, let your children invest their time and hearts in making Christmas memories for your family.

1. Buy white or red place mats and let your children create their own artwork with fabric crayons. A placemat can be made for each guest at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Your children will feel an important part of the festivities.

2. Make paper angels and have your children write short messages to each family member stating the things about that person for which they are thankful. Your children will have an opportunity to think beyond the commercialism of the day to appreciate the blessings they already have.

3. Start a cookie exchange among the neighborhood children. Your children can make a dozen cookies for each family in the neighborhood and deliver them wrapped in a colored tin. They can then sit back and weight to see the kind of cookie surprises come to their door!

4. Allow your children to make this year’s Christmas cards. Simply buy blank cards at your favorite office supply store and let your children loose with magic markers. They can even compose a poem and message for each recipient.

5. Have your children come up with small tasks they can easily do - like taking out the trash. They can then write those tasks on plain paper angels they make themselves. Have them deliver the angels to elderly neighbors as a gift of sharing for the holiday season. Learning to give the gift of themselves can be the most valuable memory of the season!

Let your children become a vital part of the planning of the holiday season and not simply receivers of gifts. It will help them understand that giving can be as much fun and more rewarding! as receiving. And their memories of this holiday season may set a lifelong pattern – which may be the best holiday present of all!

About The Author

Pamela Cole Harris is an editor and writer with 35 years experience. Visit her website, http://www.homeandgardenmakeover.com, for her unique view of home decorating and remodeling and a free monthly newsletter!. Or for original content unique to your website, written especially for your keywords and your audience, visit http://www.pamelacoleharris.com.

While reading the news on the Internet this morning I came across an article on that furry little groundhog, better know as Punxsutawney Phil.

As happens every year at this time, the little fur-ball emerged from his burrow, as he’s done since 1886 - wow, he must be really old by now – to give us the updated winter forecast.

Yes sports fans it’s official, good old Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

Now your reaction to this news will vary depending on what part of the country you live in. Here in the Northeast, many of us – this author included – do not jump for joy.

If you happen to be one of the winter sports people you know the ones who ski, ice skate, snowmobile etc. this was probably welcomed news.

However, speaking strictly for myself – and anyone else that might agree - the thought of having to continue going out into a cold morning and cleaning off my car or having to dress like I’m crossing the tundra just to take my dog out for a walk doesn’t exactly excite me.

Even my pets have had enough. Paths have had to be shoveled out in the yard for Toby – our little Shetland Sheepdog – if we didn’t do this a red flag would need to be attached to his tail so he would not get lost in the snow.

Now the cats, you’ve heard the expression “Cat Fight”, well it’s happening a little more frequently here these days. Normally the four of them get along fairly well, but I think they have had just about enough of these close quarters

I can totally relate to how they feel, so I’ve come up with a plan to help make the next six weeks – give or take – go by a little more smoothly.

1Every day that is sunny, I’m going to open the curtains as wide as they will go, place a chair in front of it and sit facing out for as long as possible. Sound funny, well not really, there is a medical benefit from this as anyone who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder – or SAD – knows.

2Purchase every Home Decorating & Garden magazine that has any articles or pictures dealing with spring that I can find.

Looking through the Home Decorating magazines, I’m going to begin making a list of all the projects I want to do, to change my décor from winter to spring.

3Since moving from our large home into a townhouse, I don’t have an opportunity to do a lot of gardening anymore. But I love looking at garden magazines anyway; the pictures are always so beautiful. Now I do have planters outside the back door, so I can still plan on some flowers and getting my hands dirty.

4Begin watching the Travel Channel a little more frequently. I’m not planning on taking any trips, but to sit for a half hour to an hour looking and imagining myself in some warm, sunny places will be wonderful.

Well, I think this is a pretty good start. Oh, one more thing, every morning after getting up, going to the kitchen to pour my first cup of coffee I’ll then stand at the back door look out at the mounds of snow and repeat several time

“This will not last, Spring is coming”.

About The Author

Bonnie P. Carrier is the creator of Savvy Home Decorating. She is the mother to two grown daughters and a very spoiled 4yr old Blue Merle Sheltie named Toby. Having been a homemaker for over 23yrs has provided years of experience in budget decorating and organization. Stop by Savvy Home Decorating - www.savvy-home-decorating.com - for ideas and tips on budget decorating:

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including this notice. Copyright © 2004 bonnie carrier

bonnie@savvy-home-decorating.com

Just because you are on a shoestring budget doesnt mean you have to be hamstrung when it comes to style. Your job is to shoot higher than making your apartment habitable - you want to make it comfortable, attractive and a place to which you want to come home.

Youll be able to achieve a lot of bang for the buck with a staple of first-time renters and home buyers - the ordinary bed sheet.

As a textile resource, the bed sheet is a relative bargain. It can be cut, trimmed, disguised and reborn for all kinds of uses - decorative pillows, cafe curtains, placemats, vanity skirts, tablecloths, shower curtains, and they can even be painted as a dramatic backdrop for a living area or bedroom. Flat sheets can be found on sale almost any time of the year, and in a wide assortment of colors and patterns.

For most of these color-enhancing and practical products you dont even need to know how to sew. Fabric glue, scissors, some trim goods and patience are all you need to brighten a sofa or a tabletop with color. Straight pins will secure your fabric as you work with it, and prevent you from gaping seams or crooked edges.

In "The New Apartment Book" by Michele Michael, Clarkson/Potter Publishers, New York, the author uses a white wall-sized sheet as a canvas to paint a colorful, bold-stroked Statue of Liberty in the seasons new ocean blue, daffodil yellow and olive green tones. The effect is contemporary and breezy, cleverly substituting the painting for a more expensive and less expressive headboard against the bed. Crisp stacked pillows again visually pinch hit for the absent headboard.

You can take the idea one step further with your own painted backdrop and carry the idea through to hand-painted pillows. Practice a broad brushstroke of your favorite painters work, or a photograph. Use something you adore as inspiration - a time of year, a favorite hobby. If you arent artistic but can follow a pattern, invest in stencils. You can use them to paint borders around your ceiling or on the backsplash of your kitchen and repeat the pattern in your tabletop cloths, napkins, or mats. Carry through the theme to color coordinated oven mitts and dishtowels.

If you can fold fabric into a forty five degree angle, you can add a contrasting fabric to miter corners on placemats and shower curtains. Again, fabric glue can come to your rescue if a sewing machine isnt handy. For a shower curtain, you dont need to make ring holes. You can find fabric ring clips at most fabric stores, hardware stores and department stores that clip on. Just make sure your clips are sturdy enough to support both a plastic liner and your fabric overlay. Add pizzazz by gluing fabric trim with loops or tassels across the top, or by scalloping the bottom so it suggests waves on the water.

Without a large investment, you can brighten and adorn your apartment by having some fun with sheets. And when you are tired of the look, throw them out and start over!

About The Author

Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000s of people find roommates. Need help Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

info@roommateexpress.com

The commercial and residential building trend for today is more living area space and less bedroom space. When an apartment complex has to compromise - the large bedroom and its accompanying storage space will be the first to get the pink slip.

Lack of storage space is a flash from the past, when storage was not in walls or in shelving but in massive pieces of furniture each had a specific purpose and the grouping seemed to take up the whole room. As a renter - youll have to supply your own storage.

Whats the solution Consider how America used to live. Small bedrooms herald back to way before the fifties, when people accumulated fewer things and consumerism was less focused on the individual and more on the common good of the family. That changed substantially after World War II and the birth of the "Me" Generation - better known as baby boomers. An exhilarated nation lavished new goods bought cheaply from around the world on its families, children and grandchildren, and consumerism has never taken a step back. No longer are we happy with one of everything one winter coat, one TV - now we have been enculturated to appreciate variety over value.

Increased availability and reduced prices for consumer goods has created an enthusiastic consumer for collecting small goods - clothes, trinkets, and accessories. For those who love to shop at The Gap and The Limited , and can afford to buy a whole new wardrobe every season, lack of closet space and smaller bedrooms can be a real inconvenience.

If space is a problem, look to the past on how to solve it and make it work for you in the meantime.

1. Revamp Your Wardrobe.

How did our grandmothers manage with those tiny closets and fancy carved wardrobes that we now use to hold our TVs The answer is simple - they had fewer clothes and they took better care of them.

Throw out anything you have not worn in over a year. Be brutal. Clothes hanging in your closet wont give you any additional value, they just keep getting limper until you never wear them at all.

Assess what is left for wear and tear. Weed out some more. Again be brutal.

Try to make a mix and match plan with what remains. Any item that doesnt go with at least two or three other items, you dont need. A blouse should go with at least a skirt and a pair of pants, and perhaps, jeans. A sport coat should complement at least two different pairs of slacks. Some clothes can traverse the seasons and work layered under other things. A T-shirt can add warmth to a medium weight sweater that will get you through most cold days.

2. Buy fewer clothes and take better care of them. Any new item you buy automatically makes at least two items in your wardrobe obsolete. Dont believe me Do the math. Youll likely wear a new item as often as twice in the first week you own it, then you might wear it as often as once a week or more for a few weeks more. Youll also stop wearing items from the same "era." Why The psychological associations are simply too strong. If you really want to buy something, look at how long the season is to wear it - 3 months to six months depending on the climate in which you live then divide the number of wearings once a week into that period. That is a quick way to decide if you realize that the great blouse you just found is going to cost you $30 a wearing because the seasons are about to change.

Joan Crawford was right. No more wire hangers...ever. The thin wire wears a groove into clothes and causes unsightly lumps in anything with a knitted fabric. Knits should be folded and stored. Wherever possible, get your hands on coat hangers or plastic hangers and use those for your hangables.

3. Decorate with some of your favorite wearables. Is your hat collection taking up too much room Hang one on your bedpost, make an arrangement on the wall. Accent with bunches of upside down dried flowers. No way to keep your ties neat Create a rack on one wall or use as a headboard. Ties can add color and style. Add to your collection with funky ties from the back of Dads closet or the Salvation Army.

4. Put everything on the walls that you can, including lighting. Lamps take up a lot of room on small bedside tables, room you may need for other things. Brace small shelves on the wall on either side of your bed and present your lamps like works of art. Invest in shelves that you can take down and take with you when you move. Create vignettes on the shelves that can be useful and bring color and urban wit to your bedroom - books, memorabilia. Decorate with items that are distinctively you.

One of the most charming decorative items from the past are wall shelves, brackets and sconces. If you go into new furniture stores, you will see that wall storage is making a huge comeback and at very expensive prices.

5. If your bedroom isnt large enough to accommodate the kind of furniture you really want, paint a tromp-loeil version of what you want. Tromp-loeil is the art of painting or fabricating something so that it looks like the real thi ng. One decorating style book suggests painting a canopy on the wall and ceiling behind and above the bed to give the illusion of elegance. Rooms with small windows can be similarly fooled with paintings that feature windows and pictures of beautiful views.

6. Change the way you study, pay bills, or work at home. Move the "home office" out of the bedroom and find a convenient place in your more spacious living room area.

Psychological studies show that when you study, read or do work that requires concentration, you will perform better away from areas associated with relaxation and sleep. The reverse is true also. You will sleep better away from demanding reminders of projects due.

7. Keep it simple. A few large pieces of furniture will have more utility than scaled down versions of more items. Use one nightstand instead of two, but make it a large one. Use a large dresser that can accommodate all your foldables. Out of season items can be stored in boxes and put in the closet or under the bed.

About The Author

Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000s of people find roommates. Need help Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

info@roommateexpress.com

Remember when no one started Christmas shopping until after Thanksgiving

Wisconsin author LeAnn R. Ralph remembers it very well.

"When I was growing up on our dairy farm forty years ago, the stores didnt put up Christmas displays until the day after Thanksgiving. No one was really thinking about Christmas shopping before that," Ralph said. "In fact, my mother felt so strongly about it that she didnt even like to hear the word Christmas until after we had finished eating Thanksgiving dinner."

Ralphs new book, Christmas In Dairyland True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm, celebrates Christmas during that simpler time.

"Back then, happiness was baking cookies, decorating the Christmas tree, and eating lefse that my mother had made," Ralph said.

Lefse pronounced lefsuh is a flat potato pastry brought to this country by Norwegian immigrants who settled in Wisconsin. Ralphs mother was the daughter of Norwegian immigrants, and their 120-acre family farm was homesteaded by Ralphs great-grandfather.

"When I was a kid, people enjoyed simple pleasures. The Sunday school Christmas program was an event at the little country church just down the road from our farm that was attended by nearly everyone in the neighborhood," Ralph noted.

"At the time, if someone had told me the Christmas season was going to change so drastically that you would eventually get Christmas catalogs in the mail in August and September — and that you would find Christmas decorations on sale in August and September, too — I wouldnt have believed it," she said.

"I also would have never thought that dairy farming would change so much. I always took it for granted that we lived in Americas Dairyland, but today, most of the small family dairy farms have disappeared," Ralph noted.

According to statistics from the United States Census of Agriculture , Wisconsin has lost two-thirds of its dairy farms since 1969. Forty years ago, Wisconsin had 60,000 dairy farms. Today, only about 20,000 dairy farms remain.

Nation-wide statistics from the United States Census of Agriculture show the same trend. In 1969, more than a half a million dairy farms operated in the United States. Today, only about 80,000 dairy farms remain.

"As far as I was concerned, one of the best parts of Christmas was going out with my dad to cut a Christmas tree. We had small stands of pine trees planted around the farm to stop soil erosion. We would walk around until we found a nice tree, and then we would cut it and bring it home," Ralph recalled.

Ralphs book, Christmas In Dairyland True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm August 2003; ISBN1-59113-366-1 ; trade paperback; 153 pages, features 20 stories set on her familys farm during the Christmas season. Story titles include "The Lefse Connection," "Milkweed Pods and Poinsettias," "Wintergreen," "White Christmas," "Jeg Er Sa Glad Hver Julekveld," "The Most Perfect Toboggan," "A Candle for Christmas," and "A New Year Unlike Any Other." The book also includes recipes for lefse, fattigman a Norwegian cookie, pronounced futty-mun, julekake, and Christmas cookies, as well as instructions for making candles out of old crayons, as featured in the story "A Candle for Christmas."

"Several years ago a story of mine about my dad making ice cream was published in an e-mail newsletter. The title of the story was Dads Favorite Recipe, and for several weeks after that I received e-mails asking for the recipe. Thats why I decided to include recipes in the book for some of the foods mentioned in my stories," Ralph explained.

Ralph earned an undergraduate degree in English with a writing emphasis from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from UW-Whitewater. She taught English at a boys boarding school for several years and worked as a newspaper reporter for more than eight years. She is a freelance writer for two weekly newspapers in west central Wisconsin and is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer, the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers Assoc.

For more information about Christmas In Dairyland True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm, visit http://ruralroute2.com. The book also can be ordered through any brick-and-mortar bookstore.

About The Author

LeAnn R. Ralph is the editor of the Wisconsin Regional Writer the quarterly publication of the Wisconsin Regional Writers Assoc. and is the author of the book, Christmas In Dairyland True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm Aug. 2003; trade paperback. For more information about Christmas In Dairyland, visit http://ruralroute2.com bigpines@ruralroute2.com

By positioning mirrors in the right places, you have the power to make any room appear larger. Whether you live in a loft, or a four bedroom house, you can follow these tips to make small areas more comfortable.

If you are living in a loft, you probably might have pillars throughout the room. Mirror them and theyll seem to disappear.

If you want a hallway/stairway to appear wider: stagger mirrors on either side.

If you want a hallway/stairway to appear longer: a mirror at the end will double its length.

Make sure mirrors reflect only things you want to see more of. Do not place a mirror directly across from a laundry basket, or any cluttered/generally dirty area. Instead, you might want to place it across from a source of light, a favorite painting, or a window.

You can multiply candles, flowers, etc. by joining together several mirrors with butt hinges and placing them behind the objects on a mantle or table.

Consider replacing dark closet doors with sliding mirrored doors to open up a space.

In living color...

The colors you choose to decorate a room contribute more than anything to the feelings you associate with it. Remember the following when choosing a color scheme:

The best color for opening up a room is bright white.

If bright white makes you shudder, try adding a few drops of your favorite color for a tinted, warmer look.

If thats still not your cup of tea, try beige or light grey

Bright colors like yellow and white seem more inviting & open because they reflect light

Dark, dramatic colors like maroon and forest green seem more intimate because they absorb the light

Always check paint stores for mistinted paint. You might find an unusual color that appeals to you, and youll get it at a discounted price.

HELPFUL LINKS:

Peekaboo defines paint terms hue, tint, etc.

UDA Home Design helps you choose which paint colors will be best for you.

Paint and Decorating Retailers Associations site lists paint-related links.

Move it or lose it...

To make a room appear spacious when it isnt, you need to minimize your posessions. If youre moving from a large home into a smaller one, take this into consideration:

Purchase dual purpose furniture fold out couch, futon, flip out bed, coffee tables with storage underneath, etc.

Put unneeded furniture in storage, or ask your friends/relatives if they could borrow it until you need it again

Get rid of clutter. Unless you are sentimentally attached, you dont need many nick nacks. They will only make your rooms appear smaller.

HELPFUL LINKS

More advice on creating space

Remember...just because you live in a small space doesnt mean it has to feel that way

About The Author

Since 1989 Dan The Roommate Man has helped 1000s of people find roommates. Need help Contact him at 800-487-8050 or www.roommateexpress.com

info@roommateexpress.com

You can serve chicken wings hot or cold, for a meal, or for snacks. Theyre great as appetizers at parties, or when youre just looking for a tasty midnight snack. Try these four easy recipes:

Baked Chicken Wings 1/2 c. margarine, melted 1 t. dijon mustard 3 c. multi-grain flaked cereal 16-18 chicken wings, broken into two pieces 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 4 t. finely chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In glass pie plate, combine melted margarine and mustard. In medium bowl, combine cereal crumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley. Spoon onto waxed paper. Roll chicken pieces in margarine mixture, then in cereal mixture to coat completely. Place on rack in baking pan; drizzle with remaining margarine mixture. Bake 35-40 min., or until golden brown.

Hot Chicken Wings 12-15 chicken wings 1/2 c. 1 stick butter or margarine, melted 1/4 c. Red Hot Durkees Sauce or more to taste

Split wings at each joint and discard tips. Bake in 425 degree oven until crisp, turn halfway through. Drain. Combine hot sauce and butter until butter is melted, stir to mix thoroughly. Dip wings in sauce to coat completely. Arrange on plate.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings 3 lbs. chicken wings Accent seasoning Oil 1 c. water Cornstarch Garlic powder Beaten egg

Sauce: 3/4 c. sugar 3 or 4 tbsp. catsup Dash of salt 1/2 c. white vinegar 1 tsp. soy sauce 1/4 c. chicken stock 1 tsp. Accent seasoning

Cut wings into thirds. Boil tips in water for 5 min. for the stock. Sprinkle remainder of wings with garlic powder and Accent and let set for 1 hr. Dip wings into cornstarch, then beaten egg. Brown in oil on high heat. Place in 9x13 pan. Cover with sauce. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings 12-15 chicken wings 1/3 c. water 1/4 tsp. pepper 1/3 c. soy sauce 1/4 c. brown sugar 2 green onions diced 1/3 c. cooking sherry optional 1/2 tsp. ginger

Combine all ingredients for marinade, heat just to dissolve sugar. Separate wings, pour marinade over. Refrigerate overnight. Place wings in greased pan. Pour marinade over, cover with foil. Bake for 30 min. at 375 degrees. Remove foil, bake 5-10 min. longer to crisp.

About The Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of Whats for Dinner, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

Perhaps nothing says "garden party" like having afternoon tea outdoors. Its a charming reminder of bygone days and childhood make-believe. Outdoor spaces of all kinds, including balconies, can be successfully adapted to a tea party.

Tea parties span generations and will be enjoyed by your most sophisticated women friends or all the giggling little girls of your acquaintance.

What makes an elegant tea party Look at these factors.

Flowers

Plan to hold your tea party when your garden is in its fullest bloom -- perhaps its lilac time, June roses, or peony season. Be sure to cut some of the blooms for the tea table vases. If you dont have a garden, buy an armful of flowers at a farmers market or stop by a country ditch and pick bunches of wild daisies and Queen Annes lace.

Invitations

Send handwritten notes by snail mail. Your guests will recognize your party as an elegant affair and dress accordingly! Typically, tea is held around 4 p.m. -- perfect for day-blooming flowers. Include an invitation for the little ones to bring along a doll or teddy friend.

Table Setting

The more elegant, the better. Stash the paper table covering and the plastic glasses just for today. Instead, use a crisp linen tablecloth, pressed cloth napkins and your best bone china cups and saucers. If its a little girls party, you might want to invest in two or three miniature tea sets.

Try to have adequate seating for everyone. Consider setting your straight-back indoor dining chairs outdoors. They can add an elegant touch, whether left unadorned or covered with flowered chintz.

Hats

Encourage all of your guests to wear hats -- big-brimmed, floppy and flowered. If the party is for little girls, collect old hats, scarves and silk flowers at a thrift shop, yard sale or discount store. Make decorating the hats a fun activity at the party. You can also include a box of flowery cast-offs for dressing up. Include "grown-up" shoes and old jewellery -- anything that will make the little ones feel elegant. Tea time is a fun way to introduce young ones to "elegant party" manners.

Food

Other than teaspoons, no cutlery should be required at tea. All sandwiches and sweets should be dainty finger-food. Try sandwiches of watercress, cucumber, or egg with the crusts removed and cut in quarters. Sugar cookies and petit fours are traditional sweets. You can substitute mini-cupcakes or tiny tarts.

Tea

One of the first things that I learned in seventh grade home economics class was how to brew a proper pot of hot tea, but that was many years ago. I suspect that tea-making is becoming a lost art.

Tea is actually the common name of one plant: Camillia sinesis. The three basic types of tea -- black, green and oolong -- are distinguished by the amount of oxidization that the tea leaves have undergone. The more than 3,000 varieties of tea in the world are all derived from those three basic types.

Herbal teas -- more properly, tisane or infusion -- are made from a wide variety of flowers, herbs, barks, berries, fruits and spices.

At a minimum, offer your guests a traditional tea and a caffeine-free herbal choice. Have milk not cream!, sugar and fresh lemon wedges available.

So, dust off your teacups and your manners and sit down with your girlfriends for a proper tea party. Its a lovely summer interlude!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com.

Spaghetti has always been a favorite family meal. My teenage daughter will eat leftover spaghetti for breakfast, lunch, and as a mid-afternoon snack. Not everyone loves spaghetti so much that they will go to that extreme, however, and the same meals can getting boring after awhile. Here are some ways to jazz up this old favorite:

Italian Sausage Spaghetti 2 lbs. Italian sausage 48 oz. spaghetti sauce 1 6 oz. can tomato paste Green pepper, sliced thin 1 lg. onion, sliced thin 1 tbsp. Parmesan cheese 1 tsp. parsley flakes 1 c. water

Place sausage in skillet and cover in water. Simmer 10 minutes; drain. Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients in crock pot. Add drained sausage and cover; cook on low 4 hours. Increase to high; cook 1 hour more. Cut sausage in bite-size slices and serve over cooked spaghetti. Sprinkle with more Parmesan, if desired.

Irish Italian Spaghetti 1 onion, chopped 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 lb. ground beef 1 tsp. salt 1/4 tsp. pepper Dash of red pepper 1/2 tsp. chili powder 1/2 tsp. tabasco sauce 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1 can condensed tomato soup 1 8 oz. package spaghetti 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese

Brown onion in oil. Add meat and seasonings. Brown lightly, cover. Simmer 10 minutes. Add soups, cover and simmer 45 minutes. Cook spaghetti. Cover with sauce and Parmesan cheese.

Baked Spaghetti 1 c. chopped onion 1 c. chopped green pepper 1 tbsp. butter or margarine 1 28 oz. can tomatoes with liquid, cut up 1 4 oz. can mushroom stems and pieces, drained 1 2 1/4 oz. can sliced ripe olives, drained 2 tsp. dried oregano 1 lb. hamburger, browned 12 oz. spaghetti, cooked and drained 2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese 1 can cream of mushroom soup 1/4 c. water 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in butter until tender. Add tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, and oregano. Add ground beef. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes. Place half of the spaghetti in a greased 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Top with half of the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle with 1 c. cheddar cheese. Repeat layers. Mix soup and water until smooth; pour over casserole. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes. Six to 8 servings.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole 1/2 c. margarine 1 c. chopped red bell pepper 1 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms, chopped 1/4 c. chopped hot pepper rings 2 c. chicken broth 1/4 c. flour 2 c. cooked chicken, chopped 1 4 oz. can diced pimento 1 tsp. salt 1 oz. chopped slivered almonds 1/2 lb. spaghetti, broken 4 slices American cheese

Melt margarine and cook peppers and mushrooms until tender; add flour and blend well. Add chicken broth. Cook and stir until thickened. Add chicken, pimento, and seasonings; heat and add almonds.

Cook spaghetti in boiling water for about 9 minutes. Drain and mix with previous ingredients. Place in casserole dish and cover with slices of American cheese. Heat at 325 degrees until cheese is melted approx. 30 to 45 minutes. Serve.

About The Author

Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and mom who is the author of Whats for Dinner, an e-cookbook containing more than 250 quick easy dinner ideas. For more recipes, organizing tips, home decorating, crafts, holiday hints, and more, visit Creative Homemaking at http://www.creativehomemaking.com.

A Holiday Dinner Party or for that matter, any Dinner party, calls for some creative ideas for table centerpieces. An elegant centerpiece is as important a part of your dinner table, as the rest of the table decoration, serveware or even the food itself! Bring a creative twist to all your dinner parties this season, by displaying abundant and fabulous Gourmet Centerpieces instead of the usual flowers, candles etc. Instead, use flowers, candles, berries, ornaments etc. to accessorize the table decor. Place them with place mats or name cards to enliven the table. Leave the centerpiece for a majestic creation from your kitchen.

There can never be a dearth of ideas for magnificent looking gourmet food from any kitchen. Still, we, at Celebrating-Christmas.com bring to you, some ideas and tips, just to get you started.

1. The main course of your dinner party can be a great choice for a centerpiece. The traditional Roast, Stuffed Turkey, for example, makes a wonderful centerpiece.

2. Accessorize your main course with other gourmet tid-bits. In the above example of a roast turkey, you may circle the turkey with mini kebabs, stuffed mushrooms, marinated olives, fresh veggies, baby tomatoes, baby potatoes etc. Garnish each little piece for adding more color to your centerpiece.

3. Desserts are another great choice for centerpieces. Trifles, Puddings, when prepared for a fairly large number of persons, make a lovely sight.

4. If you decide to choose your desserts as centerpieces, be sure to put an extra effort into the garnishing. Desserts can be topped with whipped cream, custard sauce, fruit preserves etc. and garnished with berries, mint leaves, crushed nuts etc. If using clear glass bowls for desserts like fruit trifle etc., decorate the empty bowl first by piping softened jam on the circumference of the walls. This will give off a lovely layered look when viewed from the outside of the trifle bowl.

5. Cakes are eternal favorites as Centerpieces. Use a beautifully decorated cake, complete with a cake topper, for a delicious looking centerpiece. Beautiful Cake Stands, available easily in stores, can be used to hold the cake. For a timeless, classic look, place cakes on 3 tiered Cake Stands. For Christmas, a Buche De Noel or simply, a Yule Log Cake makes a beautiful centerpiece.

6. Place a bowl of sparkling fruit for a wholesome and elegant centerpiece. Wash and clean all the fruits before arranging them in the bowl. Creatively, alternate frosted, glazed or plain fruit and ornaments in layers. You can also arrange the fruits on a tiered Cake Stands.

7. If you cannot think of dish from your dinner menu to be of the proper size and look, for a centerpiece, you can creatively use certain smaller sized items, too. For e.g., you can arrange appetizers, miniature puddings, muffins, candy etc. on tiered Cake Stands. All you need to keep in mind to make this arrangement an attractive one, is to play with color. Alternate food items on a color theme.

8. For a cocktail party, a perfect centerpiece will be a glass bowl filled with crushed ice carrying bright colored wine bottles. Drop a few berries and/or mint leaves to add more color.

Gourmet Centerpieces, besides being very attractive, are also very practical. More often than not, Dinner Tables are short of space with all that large number of items on your menu, serving pieces, dinnerware, mats etc. It is possible that you run out of space for a centerpiece. Gourmet centerpieces will neither take up any extra space on your table nor too much of your time. Only a little effort is needed to decorate and garnish them attractively. And last but not the least, at all times, take time to view your creation from all angles to ensure that it makes a wonderful sight to everyone watching it.

About The Author

Article Copyright Celebrating-Christmas.com: Your Guide to Celebrating Christmas in Style.

Visit us at http://www.celebrating-christmas.com for Christmas Crafts, Recipes, Dinner Menu Ideas, Party Planning Tips, Gift Ideas, Holiday Decorating Tips, Holiday Planning and Organizing Checklists, Christmas contests, free downloads, kids fun and much more holiday stuff. lata@celebrating-christmas.com

Aaaah, autumn! Its the perfect time to entertain outdoors -- most of the bugs are gone, the sun isnt scorching even though its warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and theres a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal.

Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature.

Lighting

The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your outdoor space in evening lights. Use soft light, but use plenty of it. Try dozens of votive candles in jars and glasses to protect the flame from the wind, hurricane lamps, or kerosene lanterns set on low. Create cozy seating areas and equip each with a glowing light source.

Heating

The method youll use to chase the chill from the night will vary depending on your climate and your outdoor space. If you have a yard and community by-laws allow, a campfire is a wonderful informal party setting. In smaller gardens, consider self-contained fire pits or a chimenea.

For a more formal affair, you can install a propane-powered heater. These units are available in a range of heating powers and prices. Or, drape attractive throws or quilts on each chair for your guests to wrap around their shoulders to ward off the night air.

Of course, youll want to take advantage of the wonderful colors and textures of autumn in your decorating scheme and table settings.

Color

Autumns colors are deep and rich -- russet, crimson, burnt orange, gold, dark green, and the color of hay. Use these hues repeatedly in tablecloths and settings, flowers, centerpieces, and even the food. Scoop out pumpkins and other squash and fit them with containers of water to make vases. Mass potted mums in vivid colors. Use orange Chinese lanterns, bright rosehips, stems of red or orange berries, or chilies. Wrap vibrant maple or sumac leaves around votive candleholders or napkin rings. Sunflower heads can be strewn on the tabletop, or left on the flower stalks in a container.

Texture

The textures of fall are earthy and rustic. Especially play these up if your gathering is informal -- a corn roast, a bonfire, a jeans and sweater evening. Use burlap or rough cotton to cover your buffet table, and dish towels as napkins. Weigh down your tablecloth with apples or pears hung on rough twine. Or use rattan placemats and wicker baskets. Terracotta pot saucers make great paper plate holders.

If youre hosting a fancy sit-down outdoor dinner, use the subtler textures of hydrangea blossoms and colored leaves on a linen tablecloth. Try bringing your indoor dining table outdoors for the evening-it will add unexpected elegance to your setting. Paint gold lettering on small gourds to use as place cards. Grace your table with late-blooming roses in crystal vases.

Whether you hold a harvest hoedown or a stylish sit-down dinner party for eight, fall for outside entertaining this autumn!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at http://www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”.

Like many people, I love the idea of making a large assortment of Christmas cookies during the holidays, but I find it difficult to find the time to get it done. As a working mother, cookbook author and webmaster of Christmas-Cookies.com http://www.christmas-cookies.com , I am a very busy woman, but baking Christmas cookies every year is a must. Over the past few years, out of frustration and necessity, I have developed a system for organizing my Christmas baking. This system allows me to make a large variety of holiday treats without taking too much time out of my busy schedule. By dividing the tasks up into 6 days, I can spend a couple hours each day getting this done, and on the 7th day, relax and enjoy giving and eating some delicious Christmas cookies. After all, God rested on the 7th day! You don’t even have to do this on 6 consecutive days. Most of the steps can be done days and even weeks in advance, giving you a great head start on your holidays.

Day 1

Search your books, recipe cards, and favorite Web sites and decide what recipes to make this year. I usually mix my traditional family recipes with a few new recipes for variety. 6 to 12 different recipes makes a nice assortment, depending on how many people you have to feed and how much time you have to spend baking. Write down the name of each recipe on a piece of paper, as well as the source of the recipe so that you can look it up later, such as the Web site URL or page number in a cookbook. Print out the recipes that you find online, and set aside the books or recipe cards you’ll need so that you can access them easily on Day 2. Things you may want to consider when making your selection are: difficulty of the recipe if you are a novice cook or will be baking with children, cost of special ingredients such as chocolate or nuts, if you are on a budget, whether the cookies keep well or can they be frozen, if you’d like to do your baking ahead of time.

Day 2

Consulting your list of recipes, create your shopping list. Calculate roughly how much of each ingredient you’ll need in total by adding up cups of butter, number of eggs, and other common ingredients. Include in your list: All of the ingredients for the cookies. Check what you have at home for freshness. Nuts and shortening will go rancid after a few months, and baking powder and baking soda lose their effectiveness, so keep this in mind: out with the old, in with the new! Fresh ingredients are the key to good tasting cookies. Any baking tools you may need. Consider replacing old worn out tools or adding a new tool to your collection each year. Anything you may need for decorating such as food coloring, colored sugars and jimmies, or pastry bags for piping frosting. Containers like plastic tubs, cookie tins, or even cardboard boxes to store your cookies in. Make sure you have containers that are large enough to hold a complete batch of each cookie look at the yield of your recipe if you’re not sure. If you plan to parcel them out for gift-giving, make sure you have enough containers for each recipient. Organize your shopping list according to store, such as: grocery store, kitchen or home store, cake decorating supply store, etc.

Day 3

Go shopping! Lay out your plan of action so that you go to the grocery store last of all, so that you can take your refrigerated ingredients home as soon as possible. Of course, if you live in a very cold climate, this is not too much of a worry. When you get home, wash your new baking tools and put all the non-perishable ingredients in one place so that you can easily get them out on Day 4. At my house, I have a designated baking cupboard that gives me easy access to everything I need on days I decide to bake. You can do Day 3 weeks before you plan to bake as long as you: Freeze your butter or shortening, and buy the perishables such as eggs and cream cheese just before you plan to bake.

Day 4

Today you will just make the dough for your cookies, but you will not actually bake them! Most cookie doughs can safely be refrigerated for days or frozen for weeks before you need to make the cookies. The reason for doing it this way is because when making several different kinds of cookies at the same time, it’s very efficient to make all your dough at once while you have all your ingredients and baking tools at hand. If you do have a particular recipe that can’t be frozen, identify it and plan to make it on Day 5.

Remember to bring refrigerated items like butter, eggs, and cream cheese to room temperature before you start to assemble your recipes. Take them out of the refrigerator at least a couple hours before you plan to bake.

To make this process even easier, I’ve developed a system for making dough assembly-line style, which you can read more about in my article about the Cookie Assembly Line http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com/assembly.php . Wrap each ball of dough in plastic wrap, identify it by writing the name of the recipe on the plastic wrap with a felt-tip marker, and refrigerate it or freeze it. If it is a slice-and-bake refrigerator cookie, form it into a log instead of a ball, according to the directions in your recipe. Make sure to keep your recipes in a handy place so that you don’t have to search for them on Day 5.

Day 5

Today is baking day! Check your recipe: if you have to work with dough at room temperature as recommended for most cookie press cookies then take your dough out ahead of time and let it warm up to room temperature before you begin forming the cookies. If you have frozen your dough, allow it to thaw in the plastic wrap and only remove the plastic wrap once it has reached the desired temperature. If you remove the plastic while it is still frozen, then condensation will form on the dough and that will add too much moisture.

Start with the recipes that call for the lowest oven temperature and pre-heat your oven to that temperature. Remove dough from the refrigerator, line your baking sheets with parchment paper no greasing! and prepare the dough for baking as called for in your recipe. You may have to roll out the dough and cut it with cookie cutters, or fill it with some kind of filling, or place it in a special pan like a mini-muffin pan or a Madeleine mold, or simply slice and bake the rolls you made on Day 4. Once all the cookies that are baked at the lowest temperature are completed, raise your oven temperature to the next highest to bake those cookies, and so on.

Even if you have some of the handy stackable cooling racks, you will surely run out of space to cool several batches of cookies. Placing a double-thickness of aluminum foil on your countertop is a good substitute for a cooling rack when you run out of space. Once your cookies are completely cooled to room temperature, line your containers with waxed paper and place your cookies in the containers one layer at a time, with another sheet of waxed paper in between each layer. Then return the containers to the refrigerator if they will not be eaten for a day or two, or you can leave them out at room temperature until the next day. If they won’t be eaten or shipped for several days, you can wrap the entire container in plastic wrap and freeze your cookies for up to 2 weeks. You can freeze them for longer than this if you wrap the cookies in small stacks of 5 or 6 before placing them in their containers. Defrost the cookies at room temperature, leaving them wrapped until they are thoroughly defrosted.

Many of your recipes may be completed at this point if they don’t require decorating.

Day 6

Day 6 is decorating day. For many of us, this is the most enjoyable step in the cookie-baking process. Decorating should always be done no more than 2 days before the cookies will be eaten, ideally the day or even the morning before. Now you will make your various frostings and icings, or prepare your melted chocolate for drizzling, or dust with powdered sugar to decorate your cookies as directed. If your cookies are not to be eaten immediately, make sure that the icing or melted chocolate has thoroughly set and hardened—a process that may take several hours—before stacking the cookies back in their containers, again separating the layers with sheets of waxed paper. Cookies that have been frosted with a buttercream-type frosting cannot be stacked. They should be stored in a single layer with a loose covering of plastic wrap.

Day 7

Relax and enjoy your holiday, because your Christmas baking is done!

Copyright 2004 Mimi Cummins. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

Mimi Cummins is co-author of the book "Christmas Cookies Are for Giving: Recipes, Stories, and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts." This book, "enthusiastically recommended" by Midwest Book Review, is full of baking tips and hints, including nearly 50 recipes each with a full-color photo. For more information visit http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com/ or order from your favorite online bookstore.

[Note to webmasters: you may include a link to the book using your affiliate program Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other if you wish.]

Many bakers ask for tips and instructions on decorating cookies. Well that’s a tall order because there are as many ways to decorate cookies as there are cookies! Here are a few guidelines for novices and experienced bakers alike to help you generate your own ideas for cooking decorating.

DECORATING COOKIES BEFORE BAKING

Cookies can be decorated before baking with materials that withstand the heat of baking. Some things that you can place on your cookies before baking are: colored sugars or natural sugars such as pearl sugar jimmies, non-pareils, silver and gold dragées, and other sprinkles raisins and dried fruits such as cranberries nuts

These items can be placed on top of almost any cookie to dress it up a bit and give it a more festive appearance.

Paint a masterpiece

You can also paint your cookies before baking them. Make an edible food paint out of an egg yolk mixed with a few drops of food coloring and paint the cookies with a clean paintbrush. The paint will dry while baking and give the cookie a colorful, glazed appearance. This is a fun activity for kids!

A bit of trompe l’oeil

The folks at Better Homes and Gardens have a creative recipe for Colored Cream Dough http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtmlpage=2&storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fstory%2Fdata%2F11429.xml&catref=SC1407 which is a dough of frosting consistency that can be piped onto cookies with a pastry bag fitted with a writing or star tip, and then baked. The result is a cookie that looks like it has been frosted but the frosting is baked on and hard.

DECORATING COOKIES AFTER BAKING

Decorating cookies after baking them requires that you apply some kind of liquid-based substance that will adhere to the baked cookie, or that will act as a glue to attach other items. Usually, this takes the form of frosting, icing, or melted chocolate.

Frosting vs. Icing

There is a big difference between frosting and icing. Frosting is thick and holds shapes like rosettes and shells like those you see piped around the edges of a birthday cake. It remains soft to the touch and has a creamy texture, and most people think it tastes better because of the creamy buttery flavor.

Icing, on the other hand, is a thinner, more liquid substance, and as it dries it thins out, becomes very smooth across the surface of your cookie, and hardens. This is the icing to use for the most beautiful, professional results.

Working with frosting

You can use frosting in two ways. One way is to simply use a knife or rubber spatula to spread the frosting across the whole surface of your cookie. The other way is to place the frosting in a pastry or decorating bag fitted with a small tip and piping out thin lines or rosettes of icing onto the cookie.

Either way, once the frosting has been applied to the cookie you can then further embellish it by using colored sugars, non-pareils, or any of the decorating items mentioned in the Decorating Before Baking section above. Christmas-Cookies.com has a delicious recipe for Buttercream Frosting at http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.phprecid=306. See detailed instructions on piping frosting from Better Homes and Gardens at http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtmlpage=3&storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fstory%2Fdata%2F11430.xml&catref=SC1407

Working with icing

Icing is a little more difficult to work with but its smooth surface produces the most beautiful results! Icing should always be piped onto a cookie because it will run off the edges if spread with a knife. Once iced you can apply silver dragées, or other sprinkles just as mentioned with the frosting above, before it hardens. Christmas-Cookies.com has an excellent recipe for Royal Icing at http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.phprecid=42. Better Homes and Gardens also a recipe for Powdered Sugar Icing http://www.christmas-cookies.com/recipes/recipe.phprecid=288 that dries less hard than Royal Icing and has a shiny surface. Martha Stewarts website features an excellent article on how to pipe icing onto cookies for professional-looking results http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtmltype=content&id=channel172011&catid=cat258 .

Melted chocolate

Just about any cookie can be embellished simply by dipping it in chocolate or drizzling chocolate over it. You can even dress up the everyday chocolate chip cookie for gift-giving or serving at parties. Melting chocolate is a simple process, but a few rules must be followed in order to make it a success. For Easter, try using white chocolate tinted in pastel shades with food coloring. Use the gel, paste or powdered kind of food color, because the liquid drops may make the chocolate seize up.

What you need

You can either use chocolate chips or baking chocolate the kind that comes in 1-ounce squares and the same process applies whether you use dark chocolate or white chocolate. A small amount of shortening should be added at the ratio of 2 tablespoons shortening for 1 cup of chocolate chips or chopped up baking chocolate.

Double boiler

Place chocolate and shortening in the top half of a double boiler or in a metal bowl that has been placed on top of a saucepan filled with hot water. The water must be very hot, but not boiling, because the steam generated by boiling water could get moisture into the melting chocolate which makes it curdle.

Allow the chocolate to melt over the hot water and stir it occasionally until it has achieved a liquid consistency.

Microwave

Place your chocolate and shortening in a microwave safe bowl and microwave it on medium power for 1 minute. Stir. Continue microwaving 20 seconds, stir again. Keep doing this until the chocolate is almost melted. Remove it from the microwave and stir it until completely melted.

Dipping

Dip one end of your cookie, or half the cookie, or even the whole cookie into the melted chocolate. Set the cookie on a wire rack to let the chocolate harden. If you wish, you can sprinkle chopped nuts, coconut, or non-pareils over the melted chocolate before it hardens.

Drizzling

Scrape melted chocolate into a ziplock baggie. With a sharp scissors, snip off a very small corner of the baggie. Drizzle top of cookies with zig-zags of melted chocolate. Cool until chocolate is set.

Using these simple techniques will help you produce a variety of beautiful-looking cookies at Christmastime and throughout the year.

Copyright 2004 Mimi Cummins. All Rights Reserved.

About The Author

Mimi Cummins is co-author of the book "Christmas Cookies Are for Giving: Recipes, Stories, and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts." This book, "enthusiastically recommended" by Midwest Book Review, is full of baking tips and hints, including nearly 50 recipes each with a full-color photo. For more information visit http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com/ or order from your favorite online bookstore.

[Note to webmasters: you may include a link to the book using your affiliate program Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other if you wish.]

What does holly, that untidy traditional greenery you just have to festoon your house with every year, have to do with not tearing your hair out before its even Thanksgiving Plenty. You can use H-O-L-L-Y to help you get organized.

1. H: Help

How many times have you tried to do the perfect turkey all by yourself just so your mother-in-law would be impressed Heres a reality check: a If your mother-in-law is any kind of a real woman, she remembers that her mother-in-law put the exact same pressure on her, and b if shes the kind of person who complains because the cranberries come from a can, shes the kind of person who complains anyway and would be unhappy if she couldnt try to make you look like an incompetent nitwit, and how a woman like that could raise your wonderful husband is beyond everyone.

If that husband is such a great guy, get him in the kitchen. Sit down and plan what the two of you really want---he might not want a six-course dinner, which is fine, because you dont either. Get the kids involved. By now some of them are at that stage where they want to show off what they can do "all by myself," and you know that even though you hate your daughters taste in music, she did make killer stuffing last Thanksgiving. And your son makes a great omelet for Christmas morning. Then theres your sister who loves to chat, so put her to work while you listen to her endless monologue.

Electronic help is great too---use a PDA or the family computer to keep a list of recipes and ingredients. There are many great, sometimes free, computer programs available.

2. O: Oh-No

Lets face it. Youll make mistakes. The sugar cookies will burn. You can always "eat" your mistakes and try again---just dont try a new recipe for the first time Christmas Day. In fact, plan for your mistakes. Thats right. Most of us spend so much time agonizing over avoiding mistakes we forget that they are going to happen anyway, and not necessarily at our hands. So your best girlfriend Susan brought over deviled ham instead of double chocolate cake...theres a reason we have bakeries, right Just cheerfully accept the mistake and move on. People can get over a slightly too well-done roast, but they will be downright uncomfortable if you spend the entire dinner moaning about it.

3. L: Love

You know Christmas is the season of love, and you can have as much fun with take-out pizza as you can with an elegant dinner if the company is right. One sure way to recapture love is to bake cookies together. Theres nothing like the sight of kids rolling dough and decorating their works of art.

4. L: Let It Be

Sorry for the Paul McCartney overtones, but once you have your plan in place, stick to it---that doesnt mean you cant compromise slightly. Agonizing over turkey versus tofu causes you to lose your appetite, and is as harmful to your cooking as disorganization. Sticking to a decision and keeping your plan, no matter what everyone else thinks, gives you peace of mind.

5. Y: You

Remember that there will be stress around the holidays, but that your mind can choose not to give in. You can choose to refuse another beer because "Im frazzled" or avoid inviting people you really cant stand just because your mind thinks you have an obligation to be popular and kill yourself feeding 25 people. You can throw snowballs, or, if you live in California, go throw some water on the wildfires...just take your mind off your cooking. Youll rediscover just why it is youre cooking and what you love about Christmas.

So thats your H-O-L-L-Y for a happy holiday. And when all else fails, theres chocolate.

About The Author

Copyright Kristin Johnson.

Kristin Johnson is co-author of the “highly recommended” Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9. A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher info@tyrpublishing.com to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com.

kristin@poemsforyou.com

You too can make a spectacular turkey dinner!

TT has what you need to help you at every step. You even get carving directions with graphics, guidance about the best way to thaw, stuff and roast your turkey, recipes and more. See whats inside.

Get answers to your most pressing turkey questions about how leftover turkey can be stored properly and what do you need to do to a turkey just before roasting it. Pick up invaluable Turkey Tips about Thermometer Placement and even how do you will know when the turkey is done. Learn about thawing your turkey using both the refrigerator and the cold water methods.

Not sure how to "Get Stuffed" the right way Never fear, follow the Tantalizing Turkeys simple guidelines and you are on your way! You even get complete details with approximate cooking times for the Open Pan Method of roasting your turkey.

Once your turkey is roasted to perfection, dont mess up the meal with poor carving, follow the easy to understand carving instructions complete with diagrams.

The turkey however is only one part of the presentation. Dont miss out on the mouth watering Turkey Apple Stuffing recipe and complete details on how to make Turkey Gravy with drippings or without. The recipes continue with ideas for dealing with the leftovers the best part. Lots of ideas for you to use up the remains of your bird and enjoy dessert with this recipe for Handy Turkey Cookies which doesnt actually contain turkey but who cares it tastes great!

Handy Turkey Cookies

NAPSA - A Thanksgiving feast is not complete without dessert. And such a sweet ending can be a terrific way for youngsters to join in the preparation. Decorating these simple, "handy" cookies can be a light, tasty way to top a scrumptious meal-with some help from the little ones.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen cookies

For the dough: 1 cup 2 sticks butter or margarine, softened 3/4 cup sugar 1 large egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cream of tartar

For the decorations: 1 cup prepared vanilla frosting from a 16 oz. can Assorted colored sugars Mini chocolate chips Candy corn Red fruit leather

Special aids: Hand-shaped template or cookie cutter Small resealable plastic bag Scissors

Making the cookies:

In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and beat for 1 minute longer. Beat in vanilla just until incorporated.

In a large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and cream of tartar. Using a wooden spoon, stir butter mixture, one-third at a time, into flour mixture until blended. The mixture will be crumbly.

Gather dough into a ball; flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly spray 2 baking sheets with vegetable cooking spray. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a template made by cutting out a tracing of your hand or a hand-shaped cookie cutter, cut out cookies.

Transfer cutouts, 2 inches apart, to the prepared baking sheets. Reroll scraps for additional cookies. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, 8-10 minutes; transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Decorating the cookies:

Spoon frosting into a resealable plastic bag; snip off 1 corner. Pipe a feather design onto each finger.

Sprinkle "feathers" with colored sugar. Pipe a dot for the "eye" on each thumb. Place a mini chocolate chip on each frosting "eye." Cut a candy corn for each nose and attach to thumb with a little frosting.

Using scissors, cut the fruit leather on its backing paper into 2-inch pieces; cut out "wattles."

Remove paper from fruit leather. Using a dab of frosting, attach "wattles" to thumbs. Let stand until frosting is set, about 1 hour.

About The Author

Chris Sadler is Owner and WebAdmin of The 1001Recipes2Send.com Recipes Database. Become a member to recieve the weekly newsletter alert: http://www.1001Recipes2Send.com. Download FREE eBooks at: http://www.1001Recipes2Send.com/Free.

Chris@1001Recipes2Send.com

It’s Christmas time and everything is getting the decorative treatment: including brownies.

This simple recipe for Holiday Mint Brownies is a fun way to turn ordinary brownies into an extraordinary festive treat. The flavors are wonderful with chocolate mint chips and cream cheese frosting. Plus, you can have fun decorating them with decorating gel and candies.

Best of all, these brownies are an easy holiday cookie recipe to make. Any brownie lover will enjoy these special holiday brownies.

Holiday Mint Brownies 1 1-pound 5 oz pkg fudge brownie mix ½ cup mint flavored chocolate chips ½ cup water ½ cup oil 1 egg 1 16 oz can cream cheese frosting or vanilla frosting 5 .68 oz tubes green decorating gel 1 to 2 tablespoons 84 cinnamon candies or small red decorator candies

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Line a 13x9-inch pan with foil so edges extend over pan; grease bottom only of foil.

In large bowl, combine brownie mix, chocolate chips, water, oil and egg; beat 50 strokes with spoon. DO NOT UNDERMIX. Spread in greased foil-lined pan.

Bake for 31-33 minutes. Cool 1 hour or until completely cooled.

Frost brownies. Freeze 1 hour.

Remove brownies from pan by lifting foil; peel off foil. Cut brownies into squares or cut diagonally into diamond shapes.

Outline each brownie with green decorating gel. Place 3 red candies in the corner or middle of each brownie. Store in a single layer in covered container, in a cool place.

Makes 28 brownies.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Donna Monday Got a brownie craving Satisfy it here http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com

Sometimes a dessert is just too divine to pass up on getting the recipe. This recipe for Terrific Tiramisu Dessert is one of them. A young woman named Shura showed up at an office party with this dreamy confection.

It’s too indulgent to simply describe with words, but I’ll say that this scrumptious version of the popular Italian dessert tiramisu is simply divine. With a mixture of espresso coffee, whip cream and Ladyfingers, the flavors will melt in your mouth and leave you wanting more.

If you’re looking to make a very classy, delicious dessert cake for a special dinner party or holiday gathering, you can’t go wrong with this Terrific Tiramisu dessert.

Shura’s tips even provide you with optional ingredients and special instructions.

Begin making the Tiramisu at least 3 hours before serving time, or early in the day.

Terrific Tiramisu Dessert 1 16 oz container mascarpone cheese What I usually do is substitute with the following: 2 8 oz pkg cream cheese softened, *delete salt; in step 1, in a large bowl, with mixer at medium speed beat cream cheese and 3 tablespoons milk until smooth and fluffy. *Increase confectioner’s sugar for cheese mixture to 2/3 cup ½ teaspoon salt* ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar 3 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup espresso recipe calls for coffee-flavored liqueur but I prefer espresso 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 3 1 oz squares semi-sweet chocolate, grated 1 ½ cup heavy whipping cream 2 teaspoon instant espresso-coffee powder This isn’t too hard to get. Your supermarket may carry it in their Italian section 2 3-4 ½ oz pkgs Ladyfingers – a cookie of sorts. The Italians call them Savoiardi. There are some American ones but they are not as good. Mushy, not crunchy. Try and get an Italian brand.

Directions

1 In a large bowl, with wire whisk or fork, beat mascarpone or cream cheese mixture, salt, ½ cup sugar, 3 tablespoons espresso, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2/3 of grated chocolate set aside remaining chocolate for top of dessert.

2 In small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat 1 cup heavy or whipping cream until stiff peaks form. With rubber spatula or wire whisk, fold whipped cream into cheese mixture.

3 In small bowl, stir instant espresso-powder, remaining 1/3 cup espresso, remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla extract if you use liqueur, then add 1 tablespoons water.

4 If ladyfingers are sliced, separate them in half. Line 2 ½ quart glass or crystal bowl with one-fourth of ladyfingers; drizzle 2 tablespoons of espresso mixture over them. Spoon one-third of the cheese mixture over ladyfingers. Repeat with ladyfingers, espresso mixture, and cheese mixture to make two more layers.

Drizzle remaining espresso mixture on ladyfingers. Sprinkle remaining grated chocolate over top of dessert. Reserving one tablespoon for garnish.

5 In a small bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat remaining ½ cup cream and remaining 2 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar until stiff peaks form.

6 Spoon whipped cream mixture into decorating bag with large star tube. Pipe large rosettes on top of dessert. This is ideal, however my cake-decorating bag is in storage so I just use a plastic bag with a pin prick in it and make attractive blobs instead.

7 Sprinkle reserved grated chocolate on whipped-cream rosettes. Refrigerate until chilled and flavors are blended at least 2 hours.

Serve and enjoy.

About The Author

Copyright 2004 Donna Monday Got a brownie craving Satisfy it here http://www.best-brownie-recipes.com

NC—Diwali, the five-day fall Festival of Lights, begins on October 25 and Canadas Hindu communities will celebrate in the traditional manner - decorating their homes with lights, handing out sweets and sharing festive meals with their friends and families.

Food is an important part of the Diwali celebrations. Most Hindus are vegetarians but like all the people of India, they prepare their foods with great care using rich blends of herbs and spices to produce the wonderful aromas and flavours of food from the sub-continent.

Traditionally, foods are enriched with ghee clarified butter, cream and nuts. Lentils and saffron rice are served generously as families honour their guests and encourage a festive spirit.

Long hours spent in preparation and cooking can be reduced dramatically for the busy families of today by using the many pre-blended sauces available on the market. For example, Sharwoods line of Stir Fry sauces can be used to produce delicious versions of favourite Indian dishes in as little as 10 minutes.

You have a choice of several. Tikka Stir Fry sauce blends aromatic spices with tomatoes, yogurt and garlic, which will marinate and tenderize all kinds of meat. A variety of spices and seasonings blended with cream make Curry Stir Fry sauce a mild explosion of taste which is ideal for chicken, shrimp or vegetables.

Tandoori dishes are a world-wide favourite. If you dont have the clay tandoor oven needed to produce tandoori chicken or shrimp the way professional chefs do, Tandoori Stir Fry sauce is an excellent substitute. Just stir fry your meal with a few tablespoons of the sauce. Youll have a dish fit to celebrate Diwali or any other festival.

You will find plenty more ideas and suggestions on the Internet at www.sharwoods.com.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

Everyone finds themselves stressed out during the holiday season. But for adults with Attention Deficit Disorder ADD, November through January can feel like a whirlwind of tasks and responsibilities. Lack of time management will result in undue pressure and overwhelm for the ADD adult.

One way to take the stress out of the holidays is to plan for them. These simple steps can help the ADD adult manage their time and tasks during the holiday season, thereby relieving unnecessary stress.

Create one hour this week to plan your holiday preparation schedule, and follow these steps:

Step 1 - Make a List of all the Things You Need to Do to Prepare for the Holiday

This probably includes gift shopping, writing and mailing holiday cards, decorating your home, planning your travel, etc. After you have made this list, put a star next to each of the items that you dont like to do. Maybe you get bored writing out the holiday cards, or maybe you detest shopping.

Step 2 - Use a Calendar or Planner

Use something that gives you ample space to write for each day. This could be a wall calendar, a daily planner, or planning software. Begin by writing in all your holiday appointments, such as parties and scheduled shopping trips. Next, write in all the other activities that you have going on during the month, like meetings and appointments. When youre done, you should have a good idea of where your free time is.

Now, take a look at the items on your holiday to-do list that are not marked with a star, and schedule them in. Do you have a free evening next week in which you can write out your cards Schedule it on your calendar! Do you have a free Saturday to get your shopping done Schedule it on your calendar!

Step 3 - Make the Dreaded Tasks Easier

Take a look at all those tasks you marked with a star. These are the tasks that you hate to do for one reason or another. Take a moment to look at each one, and figure out how to make that task a little easier or more bearable. If you hate writing cards because its a tedious and boring task, you can make it easier on yourself by inviting a friend over to chat, catch up, and write out cards with you. Hate decorating Perhaps you can buy a new CD youve been wanting and allow yourself to crank it up while you put up the holiday decorations.

Investing just a small amount of time in planning can save you from undue stress and overwhelm during this holiday season.

© Copyright 2004

About The Author

Jennifer Koretsky is an ADD Management Coach who helps adults learn how to manage their ADD and move forward in life. She offers individual and group coaching, workshops, and skill-building programs. Her work has been featured in various media, including The New York Times Magazine. Subscribe to Jennifer’s free email newsletter, The ADD Management Guide, by visiting http://www.ADDmanagement.com/e-newsletter.htm

jennifer@addmanagement.com

If you’ve been trying to figure out the weight-loss game for as long as I’ve been coaching people – twenty five years – you’ve most likely been trying to avoid food, even though that point of view has not worked. What you need to do is to look at the ritual leading up to the part where you finish everything on your plate.

For many years I had either a radio show or a public access television cable show named “Changing Habits.” The opening of both shows state: we cover eating, smoking, gambling, drinking, shopping, spending, and negative thinking. There was also discussion about low wage earning, debt accumulation, messy apartments, and procrastination. All of these things have something in common: they can be ritualized.

I, too, was seduced by the mesmerizing effect I felt when I was in the mindless, automatic state of a ritual. When in that state of mind, you’re comfortable without having to think or feel anything else. I smoked cigarettes, spent too much, drank too much, and went into debt as if I were in a trance. Writing this book became a behavioral ritual; there was always another chapter to write or re-write or edit or type. I’m in the middle of construction in my apartment. What began as re-doing a bathroom and kitchen floor has turned into buying new furniture and designing built-ins.

One tiny part of the redecorating process was looking for knobs for cabinet doors. There were hundreds of styles and shapes and colors and prices from which to choose. I don’t even want to tell you how many choices I had to make when it came to selecting a couch.

Whether gambling or drugging or eating, or writing a book, there is a ritual of things we do, and say, and think, before, during, and after the actual using of the drug. And I use the word drug here because a behavioral ritual is just as much a drug on your system as is food, or cigarettes, or alcohol.

The gambler knows the phone number of off-track betting or his/her bookie by heart; a bartender remembers your usual drink; you shop whenever you’re bored. The drinker has a favorite drink with a specific amount of ice or mixer or water. He/she might sip the drink rhythmically, with or without others at specific times of the day or week or year, and many people only drink in particular places, i.e., it never occurs to me to order alcohol in a Chinese restaurant. Whereas my friend Tom always orders a beer and friend Sara orders one large and one small sake when in a Japanese restaurant. Each part of a ritual knits with the other parts to tighten the behavior more and more effectively. Add to your list the way you lock, and unlock, the door to your home or office, answer your phone, call a friend, get ready for bed, set your hair, or comb your moustache.

When I smoked, there was the buying and smoking of the cigarettes. But there was also my cigarette-case collection, a Dunhill lighter, and I used a Lalique ashtray, for goodness sake. I added additional behaviors to my ritual, too: I needed to shop for and have on hand, lighter fluid for the lighter and extra mouth spray and mouth wash to use after I smoked each cigarette.

The ritual paraphernalia is just as much a part of your eating- or smoking- or drinking-habit as the lighting-up and inhaling of a cigarette, or the swallowing of a bite of food. Each habit has its own ritual actions and reactions.

Think about other rituals and habits you mindlessly perform each day: You brush your teeth, shower, shave, or put on makeup. Checking on mail or retrieving telephone answering-machine messages may be a part of your repertoire. I’ve recently added to my ritual, the periodic checking of my email to see if “I’ve got mail.”

Getting dressed in the morning is ritualized, too. You might comb your hair and put on makeup, then put on clothes. Some others put their clothes on first, and then comb their hair and put on makeup. I eat breakfast and take my one-a-day, two-a-day, three-a-day vitamins, minerals, and calcium pills. I even arrange them on a paper plate in four little piles for easy access later. That’s a ritual, too. That’s what we do:

We organize, and ritualize, so we can narcotize.

All this busy work distracts you, at least for the moment, from feelings or thoughts with which you don’t want to deal.

I’ve practiced and perfected many constructive rituals into my life. After doing them consistently for many years, they are now automatic, and mindless and serve my needs. They help make my day run smoothly, like using a pencil when I write in my appointment book. There is comfort in the familiar.

It is the ritual of the first thought or word or action that leads to the next thought or word or action to the next, and the next, and the next. Eventually, you succumb to what you think is the allure of the taste or smell or even sight of food. But it is really the tail end of a ritual where you might be tired or bored and just used to surrendering to whatever is set before you. Some of us eat as an excuse to take a break, or to rest. It is hard to say no because it is all knitted together from the first thought of a ritual to the first feelings of remorse. There’s always remorse. That’s part of the ritual, too. This cycle of behavioral ritual needs to be interrupted and unraveled. Identifying these patterns, even acknowledging you have patterns, is a wonderful first step in changing habits.

As you become more aware of your patterns of thought, word, and action, you can begin the process of rearranging or omitting the automatic next steps and to create new constructive patterns for yourself. Eventually, you’ll learn to be comfortable thinking, saying, and doing, something else instead of putting food into your mouth, just because it’s there.

This unraveling of the ritual of food addiction helps you to make pro-active choices so you can become the person you want to be. Sometimes, the new way is quite different from what you’ve accumulated in the way of behavior. Your old way was built over a lifetime of unconscious actions and reactions. You now have the opportunity to create something new and wonderful that better serves your present need to weigh __________ pounds.

Bobby F. danced the I can go all day without eating, but once I start, I can’t stop tango, a remnant from a previous weight-loss plan.

Since evening activities weren’t as stimulating as the daytime ones, he was without things to occupy his mind; old feelings and thoughts bubbled up. With no place to go and no one to talk to, he incorporated going into the kitchen into his usual evening activity of killing time. One trip to the kitchen yielded a piece of candy, another trip yielded a nibble of leftover salad, another trip two grapes. The once- or twice-a-night ritual became more and more frequent. It really took off when he had a phone installed in the kitchen. He found himself sitting on a chair with wheels while speaking on the phone and rolling over to the refrigerator where he’d open the door and window-shop the shelves.

When he worked on breaking that ritual, I had him put a little tick mark on a piece of paper whenever he thought of putting something into his mouth. Between 9 p.m. and midnight, he found himself thinking about food forty-two times! That is approximately one episode every five minutes.

Forty-two times in three hours he had gotten in the habit of putting something in his mouth, even though he wasn’t hungry. Forty-two times he nibbled a bite of this and a swallow of that, just because he was bored. Whether eating one item, or one bite from many items, it all adds up. It doesn’t matter if it is salad or soda. You’re eating when you’re not hungry. If you practice this habit every day of the week, you’ve got a behavioral addiction that becomes a weight gain. Keep doing the same thing and it becomes a part of the evening’s entertainment. When Herman moved the phone out of the kitchen, the picture changed. His weight changed. His habits changed. This was just one of many patterns he discovered as a result of being mindful. There were even more to find.

He realized how he always ordered a glass of wine when he took clients to dinner; or how each meal ended with a cup of coffee. Every visit to a theater to see a movie seemed to be bonded to eating a bag of popcorn or buying a soda. The buying – I call it a compulsion to spend – is a ritual, too.

When I talked about rituals with another person I teach, she commented that keeping the logbook, in which she enters her daily weights and what she eats, was a ritual. I agreed. Some rituals help us to become mindful of what it is we are doing and enable us to see, in writing, the patterns we’ve created. Some rituals are better than others.

Barbara J. had difficult times at 4 p.m. each day. It was clear that her desire to eat wasn’t about hunger; her lunch was usually only a few hours before. It was connected to her children arriving home from school. When she had to prepare food for them, she mindlessly nibbled on the food herself. She also had a phone in the kitchen and practiced some version of talking on the phone and browsing amongst the bratwurst. You may be thinking: But I only pick at the broccoli. If you’re eating when you’re not hungry, it doesn’t matter what it is. It all adds up.

In an office, an eating ritual might begin at the onset of a coffee-wagon bell ringing at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Rachel S. told me of a mindless habit she had when she commuted from Manhattan to her home in New Jersey. Every trip, five days a week for a year, she’d eat a candy bar. Just that one candy bar habit could add up to approximately twenty pounds by year’s end.

I used to have a habit of buying a large bottle of fruit juice and would sip it a few swallows at a time – it’s only juice I used to think – until all 64 ounces were sipped away and I’d buy another bottle. When I realized how often I repeated this behavior, I began buying juice in individual bottles of 4 ounces each, put the bottles on a different shelf than the top one in the refrigerator. If I didn’t see it, I didn’t think about it. If I didn’t think about it, I didn’t drink it. The habit started to collapse on its own. Sometimes, changing just one part of a ritual – whether thought word or action – loosens the entire knot of behavior without much effort. Sometimes it takes more thought. In this case, changing the size of the container did the trick a physical action. I also thought mental re-patterning, that I’d gone years without drinking juice so many times during a day and it had always been okay. It could be okay again. You get used to anything.

What are some of your rituals and habits

About The Author

This article is an excerpt from the book Conquer Your Food Addiction published by Simon and Schuster. Caryl Ehrlich, the author, also teaches The Caryl Ehrlich Program, a one-on-one behavioral approach to weight loss in New York City. Visit her at http://www.ConquerFood.com to know more about weight loss and keep it off without diet, deprivation, props, or pills.

Caryl@ConquerFood.com

If you work and are spending one third to one half of your day in an office setting then your surroundings there are as important as those in your home. Although we usually have little control over the buildings we work in, being aware of problems that can affect us will enable us to take counter-measures and may encourage the creation of stimulating and nurturing environments. Below are 10 steps that will help to provide an office that is balanced and conducive to good health and well-being, which will ultimately benefit your health and the health your company.

1 Ergonomically Correct Chair: Make sure that your chair is comfortable and has adjustable height and arms. When you are sitting straight with feet flat on the floor your arms should be at a 90-degree angle when typing on the computer. If you are having to strain or stretch to reach your computer then you are putting stress on the back and shoulder area. Chairs can certainly be expensive but in the long run it will cost much less than spending time at the chiropractor.

2 Green Plants: Plants do more than just enhance the beauty of your surroundings, many actually clean pollutants out of the air as they add oxygen and humidity to the indoor environment. New findings suggest, however, that they may add more than just color and interest. They also filter the air, and can fight against the common high-tech ill, sick building disease. Recent research undertaken by the NASA Space Administration in America has yielded some very interesting results. In a test lasting two years conducted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton at the Stennis Space Centre in Mississippi it was discovered that common houseplants are capable of converting chemical air pollutants into harmless substances. Ivy, one of the smallest of houseplants, does an excellent job of cleaning the air of toxins, especially benzene and TCE. The humble potted Chrysanthemum is another goodie. You can place a number of plants around your office or make up a high scoring clean-air cocktail by adding such plants as Peace Lilies and Parlour Palms. Better still are various forms of Dracaena, Dracaena Warnecki and Dracaena Janet Craig are real pollutant sucking types. Chinese Evergreen and the humble Philoderdron are also two to watch out for.

3 Lighting: Studies suggest that natural light increases human productivity and reduces fatigue and stress. By simply replacing your antiquated fluorescent tubes with full-spectrum tubes, you can instantly enhance your environment and your well-being! Full spectrum lighting emits a natural, balanced spectrum of light that is the closest you can get to sunlight indoors. Based on years of study not only do they bring out true, vibrant colors but they can also ease eye fatigue, improve your mood, reduce cortisol stress hormone levels, slow aging of the retina and reduce glare.

4 Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. Not only does the aroma of the natural essential oil stimulate the brain to trigger a reaction, but the natural constituents naturally occurring chemicals of the essential oil are drawn into the lungs and can also supply physical benefit. Aromatherapy can help with a physical condition, can help with symptoms, can affect your mood, or help alleviate or temporarily eliminate stress or other psychological factors. Scenting your office with Lavender essential oil is said to reduce computer errors at least 25%. The following is a good blend to use in the office must have an aromatherapy diffuser: 2 drops of lemon, orange or bergamot; 2 drops of grapefruit; 1 drop ylang ylang, rose or neroli. Multiply your blend by 4 to obtain a total of 20 drops of your chosen blend. Add your oils to a dark colored glass bottle and mix well by rolling the bottle in between your hands. Add the appropriate number of drops from your created blend to your diffuser by following the manufacturer’s instructions. There are also many “recipes” on the Internet to use during the cold and flu season when “office-air” can be extremely contagious.

5 Air Quality: The EPA informs us that 6 out of 10 buildings are "sick" and that indoor air quality is the United States number one environmental health problem. A recent study by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that ionizing a room led to 52% less dust in the air, and 95% less bacteria in the air since many of the pollutants found in the air reside on floating dust particles. The U.S.D.A. also performed another study to test the effectiveness of negative ionization at removing airborne Salmonella Enteritidis. The negative ions drastically reduced the airborne salmonella particles, prompting the following statement from the USDA. I recommend a negative ion air purifier for the office setting. These units are small enough to fit on a credenza or desk and are very modestly priced.

6 EMF Protection: Detrimental energies from electromagnetic fields emitted from high tension wires, industrial radar, microwave beams, electric current, computers, cell phones, televisions, fluorescent lights and other electrical appliances have been found to be dangerous to mental and physical health. When an individual sleeps or works for extensive periods within electromagnetic frequency zones, these energies create a constant source of stress altering body polarity which can lead to fatigue, frustration, tension and illness. Signs of exposure may include drowsiness, chronic aches and pains, sleep disorders, irritability, low energy and general malaise and may lead to more serious health situations such as cancer. These highly disruptive energy fields actually numb or dull our sense perceptions and adversely impacts brain wave activity. Studies have also shown electromagnetic fields EMF to induce mild depression in many subjects with the disruption of melatonin, dopamine, and serotonin levels. There are many devices that can be used in the office or put on the computer that will give EMF protection. I recommend the Safe Space II. It is designed to neutralize harmful electromagnetic fields, geopathic disturbances, as well as other detrimental vibrational energies in environments. It is a framed holographic grid encased behind glass 2” x 2” and can be attached to any surface…especially the computer monitor. The Safe Space II device clears a spherical area with a 9’ radius. You can read more about it at www.ghchealth.com.

7 Colors: Color therapy has its roots in ancient Egypt. Scientific studies recognize that colors bring about emotional reactions to individuals. Our reactions and attitudes to colors differ from person to person. That color affects us all is an undoubted fact. Its significance has been investigated and the results utilized in merchandizing, selling, home decorating, the workplace environment, industry, plant growth, nutrition, physics, physiology, psychology, ecclesiasticism and art. In fact, color is so much a part of our lives that we tend to take it for granted. Colors that are useful in the office are: orange – stimulates creativity; yellow – intensifies the intellect and heightens motivation; red – energizes; blue – calming, fights physical and mental tension; green – fights irritability and has a healing effect on the body. For the office, use colors that you are drawn to as these are the colors that will benefit your health.

8 Music: Just about all offices have some type of music playing in the background. Music can affect emotional well-being, physical health, social functioning, communication abilities, and cognitive skills. Music in the workplace, either from piped-in music or from a radio, is sometimes used to mask sounds. Music can provide mental stimulation while performing monotonous tasks, which can help to reduce stress levels in the office. Some people, however, find music in the office intensely annoying, especially if it is too loud or inappropriate. I have found that soft, up-lifting music is very essential to the office “atmosphere”. There is literally a mirage of good background music available on CD’s. Search out the Internet on what is right for your office.

9 Breaks: Even the most focused person needs a break at least twice a day. Change of scenery also helps with emotions. One of the best ways to eliminate stress and recharge the body is to go outside for a ten-minute walk. Focus on your surroundings and take deep breaths. This will give you a renewal of energy and will also aid in Vitamin D production. Walk by yourself and focus on clearing your mind. Walking will also get the blood and the lymphatic system flowing.

10 Organization: It is an excellent idea to look into Feng Shui for the office. Feng Shui is basically an environmental science and gives advice on how to create environments in which we feel comfortable and supported. For example, water energy plays a significant role in Feng Shui. Having a small fountain in your office can give a sense of calmness and peacefulness. Keep your office clean and organized. There is no excuse for clutter. Make sure that your desk is clean and that everything is put away before you leave each day. A well-organized, uncluttered desk leads to clear thinking and reduces stress. Make a habit of putting items back in their original place after you are finished using them.

Putting in the extra time, effort and money in getting your office environment “healthy” will pay-off with a multitude of health benefits. Of course, it is assumed that when you are out of the office, you are also taking care of yourself by eating a healthy diet, exercising the body and mind, taking good supplementation and getting adequate rest. All of this goes hand-in-hand in getting and keeping the body healthy. Remember to address your attitude as you travel the path to good health, as negative attitudes are self-destructive. Good health requires desire, determination and discipline in every aspect of your life.

About The Author

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CCN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Certified Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and Vice President of Global Healing Center, Inc. A teacher and educator, she counsels Global Healing Center clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy. As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Assistant Editor and contributor to the worldwide newsletter Alternative Health & Healing. Visit us on the web at: www.ghchealth.com staff@ghchealth.com

The Holiday Season can be a wonderful time of year, filled with lovely decorations, gift exchanges, visits with friends and family and delicious meals. But for many of us, the Holiday Season can also be quite overwhelming with all the added activities such as decorating our homes, selecting, buying, wrapping and exchanging gifts and hosting friends and family while we prepare multi-course elaborate meals! The question is, “What can we do to Overcome Overwhelm during the Holidays”

1. Simplify Your Life

Holidays that are full of complexity are neither fun nor comfortable. Complexity can easily contribute to feeling overwhelmed. We can be invited to numerous events and want to host others ourselves. These activities can be very wonderful experiences, but there can also be too many to prepare for and attend in a short time. You may also have to consider selecting, wrapping and delivering gifts, decorating the house, and, potentially, traveling to visit friends and family across the country. Keeping the holidays simple with a manageable number of events to attend and/or host, can greatly contribute to Overcoming Overwhelm during the Holidays.

2. Practice Extreme Self-Care

In our fast paced world, often our physical bodies become the last priority. We drag our bodies around nonstop and we can be indifferent to signs of exhaustion. When we practice extreme self-care, our mind, body and spirit are much more likely to assist us in our other efforts by providing strong support including energy, enthusiasm and presence. With extreme self-care our energy is up, our confidence is high and we feel much more positive. Some examples of self-care activities include sufficient sleep, quiet time, exercise, healthy food, and joyful recreation. Often during the holidays, some of our self-care activities are put on hold with all the hustle and bustle of the season. Taking proper care of ourselves during the Holiday Season can contribute greatly to Overcoming Overwhelm during the Holidays.

3. Celebrate the Unique You

Sometimes there are “should” or “must” dos on our to-do list that we really don’t enjoy doing or don’t leverage our best skills. We can end up delaying or not completing these activities. Or if we take these items on, they can contribute to frustration or overwhelm. Instead, we can consider whether there is someone else who can take care of the item for us or determine if the activity really needs to be done now.

There are many events and activities that we can participate in during the holidays on top of regular life activities. If we dont know what we really want during the Holiday Season, then it will be much harder to say no to invitations that do not align with our desires. A great place to start is to clearly define our preferences in writing. By sharing our vision of the ideal Holiday Season with our life partner, asking him or her what their desired Holiday Season looks like and integrating these two collaboratively, you have a plan the two of you can action and support together for the Holiday Season. Celebrating the Unique You, by respecting and celebrating your desired Holiday Season, can greatly contribute to Overcoming Overwhelm and experiencing more power, serenity and joy during the Holiday Season.

About The Author

Donna P. Lendzyk is a professional coach and businesswoman who guides women to Overcome Overwhelm and Achieve their Desired Results. She is the author of new multi-media “Overcome Overwhelm eProgram.” Do you need any FREE strategies on Overcoming Overwhelm & Achieving Your Desired Results Sign-up and receive “Overcome Overwhelm Secrets”. This free, informative, multi-media enewsletter is available from: http://www.Overcome-Overwhelm.com.

A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your room a personality, choose from among these basic design elements, modify them to suit your tastes and implement them in a way which is just right for you.

1. A Theme - A themed room says something about you, the person who has done it, your family or the place where you live. A theme will also provide you a place to showcase your collections, prized possessions, arts and crafts.

There are endless possibilities for using themes, but once you decide upon one, it will give you focus, as it will eliminate many things which dont fit into it. This results in great ease in shopping, planning, implementing etc. Some best decorated rooms have had themes like Water, Nature, Eighteenth Century England, Contemporary, Ethnic, Pastels etc.

2. Artifacts - A piece of artistic value will always give your room that special touch you have always wanted. It can add texture and depth to a room. Depending upon your theme, the artifact may be an an antique chair, a painted bookshelf, an original painting or even an original watercolor by your local artist.

3. Collections - It is the most effective way to display your collections in a special arrangement. Whether you collect shells, dolls or trinkets, arrange them tastefully instead of just lining things up in a row. Lining things looks even worse when objects are small in size. Instead, group them together to project variety within your collections. Lovely trays, glass cupboards, corner shelves etc. are some ideas for displaying your collections.

4. Color - Color does not get limited to painting the walls of your room. Use colors that make you feel good about them in fabrics, linen, pillows, shelves, curtains etc. Blend colors to suit your style.

Add fabrics to liven up your room with a print that contains the color of your upholstery. To maintain harmony in colors, use the same accent at least THRICE around the same room. For eg. pillows, tablecloths and curtains could have similar accents. For more on using colors, read my article Using Colors in Your Room.

Use of the above elements will still leave everything to your own imagination and creativity. These will only help you in drawing out a plan for your Home-Decorating exercise. The details of the plan are still left to you to fill up.

Happy Decorating!

About The Author

Lata Budhrani is the Founder/Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier womens website and online community. Visit her at http://www.dotcomwomen.com. lata@dotcomwomen.com

Holidays are here and so is the spirit of partying. Here are some wonderful ideas for transforming your home into an innovative party scenario and giving your guests an occasion that will forever remain etched in their memories.

1. Entrance: Do up your entrance. The entrance to your home should be magnificent and welcoming. Line the driveway with luminaries. Place a guest book at the front door for expressing sentiments. Clean up clutter near your entrance. Decorate the entrance traditionally or with something unusual to set a celebratory mood. You could also decorate according to the theme of your party. Sleigh Bells or wreaths for Christmas, ghoulish figures for Halloween etc.

2. Lighting: Lighting sets the mood for the party. Interesting ways to play with lighting are to cover light bulbs with multi-colored cellophane strips, cover lights or battery-torches with soft white cloth and place them separately to give the room an air of mystery, or use all your beautiful candles together instead of lights to create a romantic mood. If using candles, combine candles of various colors, shapes and sizes together.

3. Flowers: Flowers will never go out of Fashion. Use lots of seasonal flowers to add freshness and fragrance to your decor. Use garlands to decorate tall structures, floral arrangements on mantels and corners and floating displays of seasonal flowers and floating candles for an eye-catching centerpiece. Visit our Flower Arrangement Gallery by Chrissie Harten http://www.dotcomwomen.com/home/floral.shtml for some great ideas. If you expecting kids at your party, place such arrangements out of reach of children or use wooden or metal vases and bowls instead of glass and porcelain.

4. Fabric and Linen: The color and texture of the fabric in the room should be decided according to the occasion, theme, season etc. Cool fabrics go for summers. Rich brocades and Velvet go with a Victorian theme. Red, Golden and White will give the room a Christmassy feel.

5. A Special Touch: Give the party scenario a special touch by placing an object which will be the center of attraction for your guests. A party is the right time to show off your beautiful collection of dolls or your set of original oils by a famous artist. A set of rare books placed together as a mini-library in your party room will also become a major attraction if your guests are Literature-Lovers. Apart from collections, you can use mini-aquariums, waterfalls, miniature indoor gardens etc. These will not only beautify the room, but also give your guests a beautiful theme to start a conversation.

Happy Decorating!

About The Author

Lata Budhrani is the Founder/Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier womens website and online community. Visit her at http://www.dotcomwomen.com. lata@dotcomwomen.com

A ripe persimmon is a thing of beauty – sweet, succulent and an amazing shade of orange-red. Orange and red continue to be popular colors in decorating this year but 2004’s shades are softer and more vibrant, like ripe persimmons and pomegranates.

Don’t limit these jewel-tones to the inside of your house. They can be incorporated into a beautiful outdoor theme by using the rich and exotic influences of Morocco.

In countries such as Morocco, which line the balmy Mediterranean, curtains are often used in place of doors to allow breezes to circulate freely. Use gauzy fabric such as mosquito netting or scrim, a light, sheer, loosely woven cotton or linen cloth used for upholstery lining. Since it’s inexpensive, you can install luxuriously full draperies without going broke.

If you’d rather not have curtains, consider using the same fabric as a tent over a table or a chaise. Some nettings come with a center hanging unit, or you can easily make one of a 2’ square piece of plywood and some rope.

Intricate latticework is another element often seen in Morocco. You can emulate the look by edging pieces of plain lattice the closer the weave, the better with old carved porch posts. Paint roughly with turquoise or azure and then further distress the finish with sandpaper. Alternatively, you can install a carved wooden room screen.

Wood furniture will give you the most authentic Moroccan look. Don’t have wood furnishings Try constructing a simple low-slung chaise from a used solid core door with six fence post tops screwed into the bottom. Paint or stain it to look like rich wood and top with a thick cushion use an 8” foam mattress cut to measure. Use a heavy-weight fabric for the cushion cover and make sure it’s a bright orange or red color!

You can improvise a table from a hollow core or solid core door set on cement blocks or stacks of bricks. Cover it with layers of rich cloths in your chosen colors. You’ll find this table sits low to the ground and you’ll be able to eat in the traditional Moroccan way: sitting on pillows and rugs. Cover the cushions with co-ordinating or contrasting fabrics in rich finishes. Use azure, persimmon and lots and lots of gold fabric.

Tiles are an absolute must in Moroccan style. If you cannot incorporate them in the floor of your space, by painting a tiled pattern on a wooden deck, laying tiles on a patio, or edging your pool-side cabana, be sure to pick them up in a tabletop, a plant pot, a wall-hanging or a large tray. Mix bright turquoise or azure blue and goldy-orange tile pieces in intricate patterns to capture the Moorish look.

Moroccan-style lanterns usually have some sort of filigree work, whether wicker, metal or some other material. They are often pointed at both ends, necessitating hanging. Most often, they will enclose a flame, either of candles or small oil torches. You can also use white or ivory pillar candles instead of, or in addition to, hanging lanterns.

Use accent pieces of dark wood or brass. Pile a brass tray high with exotic fruit such as persimmons, tangerines and glossy pomegranates.

For greenery, use succulents such as banana trees and mother-in-law’s tongue, and tropicals like palms and ficus. You can also add more color to your space with lush pots of bright geraniums.

Use the rich color and sensual textures of Morocco in your outdoor space and this summer you’ll be escaping to the casbah!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

NC—From soft, layered intricate vine and floral designs to multi-levelled patchwork weaves to tailored ribs, geometric loops and lattices to nubby, terry-like twists, there are more than 200 styles and 4,000 colours of wall-to-wall carpet on the market today. "The unique and innovative patterns, textures, and colours that are available today, resulting from the latest fibre and manufacturing technologies, offer endless home styling options and are taking the spotlight at every floor show", says Leslie Beaumont, from Beaulieu Canada, Canadas largest carpet manufacturer.

Designers are now selecting carpet to create the focus in an overall room design scheme, rather than treating it simply as a neutral backdrop to other furnishings. Modern carpet textures offer architectural interest to the floor with height variation, sculptured effects and shadowing, and are the perfect contrast to smooth wall and furniture surfaces. Contemporary organic patterns coordinate easily with other interior upholstery and drapery fabrications. Even a choice of a subtle design will create interest underfoot and a look that is sophisticated, neutral and pleasing to the eye. Visit the web site www.yourhomestyle.ca for carpet decorating tips and trends using texture and colour.

For practical consideration, texture and patterned carpet are popular for minimizing soil and vacuum marks and increasing the perception of quality and value. Besides being the perfect design medium, no other flooring choice surpasses wall-to-wall carpet for comfort, warmth, sound-proofing, performance, and price.

As life gets more hectic, we strive to make our homes the perfect oasis and surround ourselves with what we like. The trend is to make our homes softer, simpler, and more liveable, and we are expressing ourselves and our own individuality through colour, texture and pattern. To transform a space, designers start from the floor up. Carpet has evolved to become a valuable, infinitely pliant design tool, and is becoming the latest trend, and a key element in the interior design process for any room.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

NC—While the home may be a familys castle and an escape from todays hectic world, its probably not perfect. Decorating styles change. There are pictures to hang and shelves to install. Things break. Its too pressing to ignore, but too minor to engage a professional. The question becomes one of where to begin.

Start with a highly recommended how-to book, such as Better Homes & Gardens – New Complete Guide to Home Repair and Improvement and New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual by Readers Digest.

With knowledge in hand, its a good idea to have a basic set of tools. When choosing, experts advise buying the best quality possible. Good tools can last a lifetime and help ensure professional results, while poor ones tend to break, cause frustration and can even damage a project.

A hardware or home center employee can guide you in quality tool selection. Here are the top ten tools that home experts say should be in every toolbox:

1. Toolbox – Start with a sturdy, latching container that can protect the tools and keep them safe, organized, and ready to go.

2. Safety goggles – Safety is the first step in any do-it-yourself project.

3. Screwdrivers – Start with a couple sizes of both flat blade and Phillips types

4. Hammer – Choose a 16-ounce claw model that fits comfortably in your hand, heavy enough to accomplish most tasks but not too heavy.

5. Tape measure – Choose one with a shock resistant case in a bright colour, so its easy to spot in your toolbox. For real convenience, try one with a built-in voice recorder to store your measurements like the Zircon Repeater®.

6. Slip-joint pliers with wire cutting jaw.

7. Adjustable wrench.

8. Utility or box knife.

9. Drill – This is the one power tool thats a must.

10. Stud finder – For dozens of home improvement projects a stud finder can be worth its weight in gold. Try the new Zircon StudSensor™ Pro SL-AC. It finds studs without guesswork and includes a new WireWarning™ safety feature so you wont accidentally nail or drill into live AC voltage.

For more information about Zircons StudSensor Pro SL-AC, Repeater and other cutting-edge electronic hand tools and to find a nearby retailer, visit the companys website at www.zircon.com or call toll-free 800-245-9265.

- News Canada

About The Author

News Canada provides a wide selection of current, ready-to-use copyright free news stories and ideas for Television, Print, Radio, and the Web.

News Canada is a niche service in public relations, offering access to print, radio, television, and now the Internet media, with ready-to-use, editorial "fill" items. Monitoring and analysis are two more of our primary services. The service supplies access to the national media for marketers in the private, the public, and the not-for-profit sectors. Your corporate and product news, consumer tips and information are packaged in a variety of ready-to-use formats and are made available to every Canadian media organization including weekly and daily newspapers, cable and commercial television stations, radio stations, as well as the Web sites Canadians visit most often. Visit News Canada and learn more about the NC services.

If you feel helpless when it comes to picking and blending colors, your answer could be as far away as your nearest pillow. Check out this quick way to create a color scheme for your home with our PICK - SEE -LMD method.

PICK a Pattern: Starting with a pattern is the easiest way to create a color palette for your decor. Choose a pattern from any object you already have and love such as a pillow, picture or piece of furniture. This will be your color palette !

SEE 3 Colors: Select a light, medium and dark color from your pattern to be used as your foundation. You may want to go to a hardware store and select color chips from the paint department that match your pattern to carry with you in case you come across a great find and need to know if it matches.

LMD: Light, Medium and Dark - How you use these colors can affect the overall appearance of your room. 

Light- Is the Background- this is usually easy to achieve since most rentals are equipped with light to off-white walls.

Medium- Large furniture and windows - Since the color of these objects will blend with the above lighter selection, the medium furniture will ground the room and give it a foundation.

Darker- Accessories. Since your eye is drawn to a darker more intense color you will be able to arrange you accessories in a manner to guide the eye flowing through your room.

PICK - SEE - LMD a formula to live by !

About The Author

Tammy Jo Schoppet is the founder of Rental Decorating Digest, an online publication focused on helping renters live with style while staying within rental guidelines. She is also the author of Decorating Your Rental Space - A Do-It-Yourself Guide for Apartment - Home - Studio - Dorm http://www.rentaldecorating.com

Supplies Needed:

Most items can be found around the house or in a craft store.

Jar Candle with lid – with removable plastic bottom

Craft Glue

Paint

Scissors

Decorating Candle Jars and Lids is a fun and easy project for all ages. You can use many different craft items to embellish your jar and lid. If you are really creative, you could even make a snow globe out of the lid. But we are going to go over a few inexpensive ideas to turn your Jar into an attractive looking and still functional decoration.

Most jar lids come with a plastic under cap, which can be taken off by a screw driver. In this space you can add many different things, from dried flowers to an elaborate scene.

One of my favorite things to do is to add fake flowers and greens to my lid, typically using the same color flower as my jar wax. Everything can be placed at the top of the lid and adding green leaves to keep it secure.

Sand, Rocks or Marble pieces can add a different look to the lid. One great idea is to use different layers of colored sand. Just make sure you fill it to the top, because the under cap will have a little bit of space. Youll get the same look as those colored bottles that you can buy at fairs. For rocks, try using some Aquarium rocks, as they come in multiple colors.

You can add a more personal touch by adding a picture or personal message in the lid. Just cut the picture to fit the lid and put some kind of background behind it. One idea is to use a nice piece of colored felt or velvet fabric. By adding enough fabric, you can be assured the picture will stay where it is. I do not recommend using glue on the top of the lid, as it will be visible.

You can also just use a pattern fabric to place inside the lid. A great idea would to use a pattern that is in your room, maybe a leftover piece of wallpaper. Then you have a matching Jar to your room. Dont laugh, but I cut off a small piece of fabric from the underside of my chair to use in a lid, so that it matched my furniture.

The jar itself can be decorated in so many ways, its impossible to list them all here. So Ill show a design and some ideas that I thought would be great to give as a gift to someone.

One of my favorite designs is to use my old Christmas cards or a specific holiday card as a design on my jar. Cut the card it to fit the jar, and then glue it to the jar using crafters glue or glue dots. This is a great idea for a gift around Valentines or Christmas time. You could even use the inside of the card with the message. And to top it off, adding a picture of yourself on the other side of the jar, will add a nice personal touch.

There are many things you can do to decorate your jar. Using some of the ideas above, like the pattern in the lid, you can also use it on the jar. Some other ideas are, painting a scene or message on the jar, gluing ribbon strips vertically to add stripes, gluing flowers to the base, adding your own custom label and something as simple as red lipstick kisses all over the jar.

Your creativity holds no bounds. So have fun and try anything, I bet it will come out fabulous.

About The Author

This Article was written by Michelle Gauthier – info@expressivecandles.com 02/20/04 – This article is copyright by www.ExpressiveCandles.com. Expressive Candles offers Scented Hand Poured Candles and a growing collection of Candle Decorating and CandleScaping articles. Optional image at http://www.expressivecandles.com/jarlid.jpg

Cant get away for a southern vacation this year Dont despair -- plan a sunny Mexican style refresher for your patio décor and enjoy the festive atmosphere of a hacienda at home this summer.

As with every other decorating style, Mexican décor has its own basic elements.

Color The predominant color in the sunny Mexican look is yellow -- bright, cheery and warm. If youre lucky enough to be working with an outdoor space that abuts a stucco house exterior, consider painting the stucco yellow or soft terracotta. Otherwise, fashion walls for your space from a fence, a screen or a trellis painted an uplifting sunny hue. Accent the yellow with bright blue or vivid turquoise. Shades of terracotta, red, orange and bright pink are also popular.

Furniture Furniture made of heavy wood looks most authentic in Mexican style decorating. Small rough-hewn side tables are suitable. If you cant get heavy wooden furnishing, paint simple wooden folding chairs bright yellow and blue. Alternatively, use wrought iron or hammered metal furniture. The Mexican influence of these materials can be also be used in gate hinges or accessories such as candlesticks.

Tiles Mexico is justly famous for its beautiful tiles -- either unfinished terracotta or those with bold glazed patterns of flowers or other objects in shades of yellow, blue and red. Consider clay floor tiles to give a concrete slab patio a fresh new look. If tiling is not in your budget, get creative with paint as we did on this city balcony. http://www.paradiseporch.com/before_after.php If youre serious about the Mexican look, tile the roof of your outdoor space with red clay tiles. Use brightly colored tiles on a table or a tray. Carry the terracotta theme with clay plant pots.

Fabric Roughly woven natural fibers, such a cotton tablecloths or woven rope chair seats, work best in this decorating scheme. Use a brightly colored wool serape as a scatter mat, throw, or "wall" hanging. This is the perfect setting for a rope hammock for that afternoon siesta. Use striped fabric in primary colors for cushion covers.

Accessories Accessorize your Mexican-styled space with wrought iron candlesticks or grille work. Fish and bird motifs such as roosters or parrots are good, especially if made of clay or tile. Carry the bright colors into the plantings in your space. Nasturtiums are ideal for hanging baskets or the lattice youve installed. If youre growing zucchini or other squash, consider planting them near the patio, so that the blossoms add to your atmosphere. If you want to get away from the yellow in your flowers, use bougainvillaea, pastel poppies or broadleaf greenery such as yucca plants. Heap a rope basket with apricots, guavas or pears. Alternatively, you can make oversized paper mâché replicas or paint wooden yard-sale fruits.

Try a few of these ideas and before you know it, youll be sipping margueritas and crunching tortillas in your very own Mexican courtyard.

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com.

Creating a Designer Home With Lighting

Traditionally, spring is the time when many of us think about redecorating or remodelling a room in our home and we begin skimming through glossy magazines, or visiting showrooms for ideas. The results always look stunning, but how do you replicate ‘that’ look in your own home when your rooms are probably a fraction of the size of those featured in home interior publications Even if you had the time, energy and resources to purchase exactly the same products that appear in a beautifully prepared photograph or showroom, somehow they never seem to look the same in your own home.

So why is this

The answer may be in your lighting or more accurately your light levels and lighting schemes. Every home will have a unique light level that is dependant upon many things; the way the rooms and windows face, the size and type of windows, the colour of the decoration and the density of furniture in the rooms. It is an eclectic mix, but these factors can make a huge difference. Natural light plays an important part in the mix, since it can create an infinite array of atmospheres and moods in any room through the course of the day, from bright and invigorating to subdued and tranquil.

Colours, Textures and Fabrics

The many forms created by natural light are something that we probably notice occasionally, but perhaps don’t fully appreciate. Before spending vast sums of money on elaborate interior design schemes, just carry out your own survey over a few days. Move furniture and accessories around to see the effects the changes can make. Create new features and try different window treatments, like Venetian blinds or layers of fabric such as fine muslin. It is relatively simple to experiment with these solutions, but you may wish to make fundamental changes to the lighting characteristics in your home by carrying out some structural alterations, such as fitting a roof light or dormer window. These solutions are naturally more involved, but can produce dramatic results.

If your budget only enables you to redecorate rather than refurbish, then bear in mind the effects different colours and textures can have on the level of light in a room. Pale colours are reflective, while dark colours and materials absorb light. White ceilings reflect light as do cream carpets but dark wooden floors and dark coloured walls absorb light and make rooms feel more claustrophobic. The mood and atmosphere that you are trying to create will determine the colours and materials that you use.

Choosing The Right Type of Lighting

So far, we have only addressed the natural light issue and how to understand and make best use of the level of light that you have. Aspects of lighting should be an integral part of your thinking. It is not something that should be deferred until you have decorated and are putting the finishing touches to a room. The type of lighting that you use should be thought about at the planning stage, as you may need to install some new electrical wiring or fittings. It’s too late when the walls have been painted or wallpapered and the flooring has been laid!

How do you choose the type of lighting you need Are you going to just replace the lampshade in the centre of the ceiling, or are you going to be more ambitious and create different levels of lighting that can be adjusted to reflect the mood and atmosphere you want to create If you wish to emulate the image in the glossy magazine, then you are going to have to give your lighting some thought, but the guidelines are straightforward. There three basic types of light: General lighting or ambient light. A pendant light in the centre of the room typically provides this type of lighting and it provides a good level of brightness for everyday use Feature or accent lighting creates highlights and can be used to focus on particular architectural features you have in your home, such as fireplaces or alcoves Task lighting, which as its name suggests, is specifically designed to provide strong localised light for specific tasks, such as cooking, reading and close work

A blend of all these types of lighting should be considered in any lighting scheme you are planning. Naturally, the combination you use is your personal choice and will determine the eventual look and feel that is achieved. Balance is the key

Light Fittings

Having identified the basic types of light that are used, you need to understand the different kinds of fittings that are at your disposal. For simplicity these can be categorised as follows: Downlighters: These are usually recessed in the ceiling, but can also be wall mounted. The light is direct and focused and will cast shadows. When used in quantity, these lights can provide a good level of ambient light Uplighters: These wash ceilings with light, which is then reflected back into a room in an even manner. They can be free standing or wall mounted and therefore provide great flexibility. Some pendants also provide uplighting properties Wall washers: When surface mounted, these provide an even light across and down a wall. Different effects can be achieved by varying the fitting and its position on a vertical surface Decorative Lighting: This can be used to add visual focus in a room and provide general lighting properties to specific areas. Decorative lighting is often used as an integral feature of an overall room set

Reflecting Your Personality

By experimenting with the categories of light that have been described above, you should be able to create the atmosphere and mood you desire. There are numerous solutions and the process may involve a degree of trial and error. If you are seeking the ultimate in flexibility and refinement, then dimmer or control systems should be used. At their simplest they can be controlled manually, or at their most complex they can be varied electronically to provide an infinite number of individual light settings.

Whatever you choose to do, you will stand a better chance of emulating that advertisement in a glossy magazine. Lighting plays such an important part in everyone’s home. The type of lighting scheme you adopt will not only satisfy your functional needs, but it could play a large part in creating atmospheres and moods that influence your own attitudes and behaviours.

About The Author

Laurence and Carolyn James own The Light Company Direct Ltd, an independent, family run business, based in the heart of the Cotswolds. The company offers a superb range of distinctive and stylish lighting for homes and commercial establishments via mail order and the Internet. Laurence and Carolyn have selected lighting that represents the very best in design and craftsmanship. They have developed close links with key manufacturers throughout Europe and are able to offer customers many designs that are rarely seen in the UK. www.thelightcompanydirect.co.uk laurence@thelightcompanydirect.co.uk

There is a magical quality to porch swings. In his summertime classic Dandelion Wine, Ray Bradbury describes the "ritual of the front-porch swing."

"In the garage they found, dusted, and carried forth the howdah, as it were, for the quiet summer-night festivals, the swing chair which Grandpa chained to the porch-ceiling eyelets…they sat, smiling at each other, nodding, as they swung silently back and forth, back and forth."

Perhaps it is the soothing rhythm or the reassuring creak of the porch swing that attracts us. Perhaps it is the companionable silence or quiet conversation. Or maybe swings simply remind us of more genteel times.

Materials and Construction

Although porch swings can be purchased in a wide range of materials, the most common are wicker and wood. You can also make your own porch swing from one of the myriad of woodworking patterns available at garden centers, hardware stores, or on the Internet. You can even improvise with a rope chair or a wicker chair with the legs cut off and a support base added.

Whether you are buying or making, here are things to look for:

Seat depths vary from 18 to 36 inches 50-100 cm. There is no one "correct" depth -- its a matter of personal comfort.

Chair slats should have some curve or slant to them to make a more comfortable seat, and there should be enough space between slats to allow air to circulate.

Swings can hold one to three people depending on the length of the seat. Of course, the bigger the swing, the heavier the load and the sturdier the supports need to be.

Swings with additional length-wise supports under the chair slats will be sturdier and will swing more evenly.

All joints should be bolted or screwed together, not nailed.

Pine, maple or oak swings will not weather as well as cedar or teak, but can be painted with an exterior paint to extend their life. They also suit a sheltered porch area.

Wooden bench backs come in a variety of styles. Back slats can run horizontally, vertically with a topper or even vertically at differing heights to form a "round" back. Some styles will suit certain homes better than others.

Seat cushions, covered in durable outdoor fabrics, can adapt a swing to just about any architectural or decorating style, and also make the swing more comfortable for whiling away those summer evening.

Installation

Allow a 4 foot 1.2 m arc for the swing to move freely.

Use galvanized or stainless steel chain or marine-grade braided nylon or polyester rope, and eye-bolts or S-hooks with 4-6 inch 10 cm-15 shafts. Using S-hooks allows easier removal of the swing for winter storage but is not as secure as using eye-bolts.

ALWAYS hang the swing from a roof joist, not the roofing material itself. If the joists on your porch roof are not exposed, cut away a section of roofing to find them. Otherwise, dont hang the swing from the ceiling -- use a frame instead.

Drill a pilot hole slightly smaller than the shaft of the eye-ring or S-ring. This will ensure a snug fit to the shaft of the ring. Tighten the ring securely, using pliers or a screw-driver for the last turn.

Measure the required chain. As an example, seven foot 2.1 m chains hung from a beam 8 feet 2.4 m above the floor will lift a swing about 18 inches 45 cm off the ground. If you have a measurement, your hardware dealer can cut the exact length of chain you need and you wont have to cut it with a hacksaw.

Use four chains to hang your swing -- two chains from each hook, one to the front of the swing and one to the back. Its easier to hang swings with holes in the arms, but swings with chains attached to the seat or to the bottom supports give a more comfortable ride without as much twisting and wearing of the chains or the ropes.

Check your swing each spring and replace any rusted chain or bolts. Also maintain the finish of the wood because weathered wood eventually will loosen fasteners and produce splinters.

No porch

Dont despair if you dont have a covered porch.

Some swings come suspended in their own frames or can be installed on decks on a wooden A-frame.

Put one in your garden, hanging from an arbor. Train vines up the sides and soon youll have a leafy hide-away nook.

Hang a board with rope from a sturdy, level tree branch

If you need something that takes up less space, consider a glider -- a bench that gently moves forward and back on a mechanized base. There are even kits available that will turn a wooden garden bench into a glider.

So dont just sit there this summer -- swing away and make some memories!

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide “Attracting Butterflies to Your Home and Garden” is now available on her web site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on “Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space”. Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

Country home décor is the most sought after home interior and it’s no wonder since country décor invites a casual friendly lifestyle.

Make sure you carefully study the specific style, and color scheme then carefully coordinate the colors of each element of your country décor.

Although the kitchen is primarily a working area little touches can make a big difference:

Pie safes or glass door cabinets can be used for displaying antique china.

Hanging potted plants from the ceiling or placing them in the window.

You can also display: Cookbooks Wooden spoons Bowls or baskets of fruits or vegetables Vases of fresh flowers Pottery Old tin canister:

Pot racks are great for hanging: Copper pots Baskets Dried herbs

You can add a touch of country to your bathroom simply by adding:

Old glass jars, which are great, for holding cotton balls, Q-tips, or a fresh flower.

Decorative baskets, a galvanized pot, or a wine rack used in the bathroom are good for holding towels.

Baskets and pots can hold magazines, books, towels, oils, soaps, shampoos, sponges, and lotions.

Shelves can be used to display a collection of: Knickknacks Candles Potpourri

Don’t forget you can hang pictures or display your kid’s artwork, in the bathroom.

You will want your living room to have a comfortable lived in look that will always make your friends and family feel welcome.

Some charming accents can be displaying: Beautiful hand made quilts Throw pillows Rugs

In your living room you can also arrange: Candles Potpourri Plants Flowers

Be consistent in your choice of home interior color, styles and materials so as to avoid a patchwork look that is indicative of bad planning.

About The Author

Lisa and Charles French would like to invite you to visit their site at http://www.decorating-country-home.com decorat3@decorating-country-home.com

When the old lamp from my childrens room was turning decidedly "trash-worthy", a grand idea formed and kept me from tossing it out. Originally, it had been such a darling lamp - it had magically transformed the room into spinning stars and moons at bedtime. My boys were enthralled with it!

Well, as the boys grew, so did their access advantage to the lamp. The inner spinning mylar cylinder with the moon and star designs turned into a mangled, crumpled, ripped up piece of multi-colored plastic. There was nothing salvageable there. What was left, however, was a perfectly functional light and a plain wooden frame that held four blank canvas panels. Since I couldnt possibly throw a working lamp away no matter how plain and ugly it was - I had to jazz it up!

Heres how I did it:

1. I "washed" the canvas panels with a "butter cream" colored bottled acrylic diluted with water using a 2" brush. To create a weave pattern, I first made vertical strokes on all four panels then went back and did horizontal strokes.

2. I carefully painted the wooden frame with a dark brown bottled acrylic using a small artists brush. if youre not confident with your painting skill - use painters tape on the canvas panels to avoid getting the brown paint on them

3. As soon as the frame and panels were dry, I planned my stencil placement and then taped the stencil in place using masking tape.

4. I chose a Chocolate color in a Delta Stencil Cream. After removing all excess paint from my stencil brush on a paper towel, I stenciled the design on all four panels using a circular motion. I used a design from our Plaster Petites Line, set #1.

5. For the finishing touch - I used four pretty finials that I attached to the four corners of the frame with white glue. If you dont happen to have any finials hanging around your house - check out your local home store. Youll find great finials in the window treatment aisle OR try a really awesome decorative drawer pull for the top! Get creative! Elegant or funky! Just dont move the lamp until the glue is completely dry or you will have four falling off finials!

Thats all there is to our "Old Lamp Re-Make" - we hope you enjoyed this project! For more totally awesome stenciling make-over and re-decorating ideas, visit our website www.simplyspring.com often!

About The Author

Spring Meese is the designer for Simply Spring Designs, a company that provides a stunning array of Raised Plaster and Wall Stencils. Spring has been in the stencil business for over ten years and is a certified interior decorator. spring@simplyspring.com

Furniture is something that every home needs to give it style and comfort. Patio furniture, bedroom furniture and dining room furniture all help to add character and elegance to your home. One of the first things that guests notice when coming to your home is the style and quality of your furniture. Does it look nice Is your furniture comfortable and relaxing

When choosing furniture for your home, remember to consider the decorating theme your using throughout your entire house. You’ll find that your own personality will shine through as you choose the best furniture, tables, lamps and rugs for your home.

Beds, bunk beds, bedspreads and other bedroom furniture make any home comfortable and relaxing. Whether it’s bunk beds for the little kids, bedspreads or trundle beds, it’s best to choose beds that fit in with the style and décor of the rest of your house. However, comfort in beds is still the most important ingredient when selecting a bed.

Four poster beds, metal beds, children’s beds and adjustable beds can all be purchased over the internet today. There are literally thousands and thousands of varieties, colors and designs to choose from.

Select from only the best furniture representatives who offer quality, elegance, quick delivery to your home and, of course, great prices!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-furniture-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Who would be the best person to help you find suitable fixtures and fittings for doors and windows

Architects are trained to create designs that are structurally sound, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. They also often have a basis knowledge of construction materials, though not the detailed knowledge required when choosing appropriate hardware.

Interior designers specialize in the decorating and furnishing of rooms and can offer fresh, innovative ideas and advice, but will be concentrating on the appearance rather than how the fittings work.Maybe a blacksmith or metal worker would be the person to ask.. No, a joiner is the best person to give advise.

Joiners understand what is needed, they have made doors and windows and know how big a hinge would be needed to hold the weight of a solid oak door, or which lock would fit properly and safely in rebated french windows. Advise is often needed as good quality hardware can be expensive. You need to get the right thing, before cutting holes in your precious doors and windows.

Architectural Ironmongery Ltd is run by trained joiners with over getting on for 90 years of joinery knowledge and experience between the three of them. They are happy to discuss restoration projects with their customers, giving advise when necessary. The retail and mail order business is based in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England, but ships world wide and has a huge amount and variety of hardware in stock. http://www.arciron.com

About The Author

Ali Arnold is a tutor and company secretary for Architectural Ironmongery Ltd, who are specialists in door and window hardware for period properties, this very knowledgable company is always happy to give advise when required. visit their site at http://www.arciron.com ali@arciron.co.uk

Not all home decorating ideas require a heavy investment of time and money. If youre looking for a few affordable home interior decorating ideas to freshen up a room over a weekend, try these ten:

1. Rearrange The Furniture- Pull your furniture away from the walls. Try positioning it at intriguing angles. For example, a sofa arranged diagonally across a narrow living room will make the room look wider.

2. Paint A Wall- Paint one wall your favorite color and make it the focal point. Hang interesting art on that wall and move a nice piece of furniture there. Note: Make sure that the color is one that is shared with several other objects and fabrics in the room.

3. Bring In Plants- Greenery always adds a breath of fresh air to a room. If you dont have a green thumb, try silk plants and trees. The quality has gotten so good that its hard to distinguish them from the real thing.

4. Lay An Area Rug- An area rug is a wonderful way of defining a conversation area. Try one that complements the room. Lay it at an angle beneath your coffee table.

5. Hang Pictures or Mirror- Hang pictures that reflect your personality. Try frames that are more ornate. When hanging a mirror, try and position it so that it reflects and nice view or an interesting architectural element.

6. Group Figurines- Pull out your favorite collectibles. Show off your personality. Find a display area and group related objects together, in sets of three or five. Try and vary the shapes.

7. Add Decorative Pillows- The good news about decorative pillows is that they are an easy way to add textures and patterns to a room. Still better, they can be changed to jazz up a sofa or chair before your room is ready for a major makeover.

8. Replace Lamps- Lamps are probably the one thing in your home that will give others a clue that your room is outdated. Seek out new and fresh lamps that make a statement.

9. Add A Throw Or Afghan- Similar to decorative pillows, throws and afghans add texture to your furniture. They come in all kinds of natural and man made fabrics. Find a pattern and style that you like.

10. Eliminate Clutter- Clutter has a way of eliminating the desired mood and effect of any room. Find storage spaces for papers, toys, and other items that take from the personality of a room.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of the Web sites http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His sites offer lots of FREE home decorating tips and ideas. support@kids-rooms-and-crafts.com

When it comes to decorating a childs room, your approach should be much different from decorating an adult bedroom.

For kids, their bedroom is where they play games, read, listen to music, day-dream, or just go to be alone sometimes. So use these eight strategies to help create a space that will make you both happy:

1. Talk to your child. Find out what activities and fantasies he or she enjoys; what their favorite color is; and whats unique about their personality that a theme could be built around.

2. Allow your child to help. Let them have a say about colors, fabrics, and how they want to display their collectibles.

3. Make the room multi-functional. Since children use their room for many activities besides sleeping, it should have several different zones, such as a play area, reading area, and entertainment area.

4. Make storage a priority. Try shelving, large decorative wicker baskets, plastic see-through containers, and closets that contain plenty of shelving and racks.

5. Keep window treatments simple. Avoid long draperies. Shades, blinds, and shorter curtains are safer choices. The fabric should be versatile, and patterns should be repeated in other items in the room, such as in pillows, quilts, lampshades, bed ruffles, etc.

6. Choose the right lighting. A child’s room should include both task lighting for homework and reading, and soothing light for quieter times. A nightlight is also important.

7. Use wallpaper or paint to add color and texture. You can apply whimsical borders along the top edges of the walls, and clouds or stars on the ceiling. Make sure walls are washable, so if you are using paint, choose a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Kids love bright colors, but you should limit any strong color to only one wall.

8. Allow your child to select the design theme. Here are just a few: firehouse fun room, starry night, angels, rainbows, unicorns, baseball, a bedroom for a princess, underwater scenery, outer space, race cars, airplanes, trains, jungle motifs, wizards and dragons, and dinosaurs.

Decorating with your child offers a great opportunity to display your playful side, while doing some memorable family bonding, so have fun with it!

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home. support@kids-rooms-and-crafts.com

Area Rug Buyers Guide brought to you by NatureRugs.com provides some important practical considerations when purchasing & decorating with an oriental rug.

When you begin decorating your home there are some important factors to consider. Your floors will usually be the foundation for your design. An authentic hand made area rug can visually integrate or harmonize diverse elements in any decor or can reenergize a room. Below are various factors to consider for purchasing & decorating with an oriental rug :

1. Size of the Rug - Area to be covered

Size up the room and the area you want to cover.

The most common area rug sizes are 4-by-6 and 6-by-9 feet. They work well under a coffee table.

An 8-by-10-foot area rug or larger can cover an entire room.

Smaller area and scatter rugs can be ideal for adorning smaller spaces—a hearth! , a bedside, the area in front of a kitchen sink—with a splash of colo r and warmth.

2. In the Home

Living Room

In a living room the area rug would most likely be placed in front of the sofa and under the coffee table

To place a room-sized area rug on a hardwood floor, choose an area rug which allows eight inches twenty centimeters of wood to be exposed around the rugs perimeter.

Measure the open space up to the sofa and chairs making sure that the individual seated will have both feet on the area rug.

More than one area rug is acceptable.

Dining Room

There should be room to pull the chairs out from the table with the back legs of the chairs remaining on the area rug.

Stairs

Look for Busy & Dark patterns

Dark wool rugs are great for this

Hallways & Entrances

Dense Patterns

Wool pile Most durable with cotton foundation strong and does not loose shape is ideal.

Very light colors are not suggested

Bedroom

Do not recommend a room size Persian/Oriental area rug for the bedroom. Most of the pattern will be hidden under the bed in the dark making the rug prone to moth damage.

Instead, use multiple area rugs. A rug at the foot of the bed and two on each side Or use several scatter rugs to fill areas around the bed as needed. It will actually cost less and compliment your furnishings better.

3. FURNISHINGS

Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the finished look of the room. Do you prefer the sparse, uncluttered look or you have a room rich with colors and textures

Remember that a rug is th! e largest splash of color in any room. Select your rug first, and then the upholstery to blend with the rug. Furniture should enhance the rug design or colors found in the rug

Next comes window treatment and walls; neutral shades are recommended.

Elements of a rug design can be further incorporated into the overall design scheme. For example, if the rug is floral, add framed prints or flowers in similar colors.

Conversely, should your focal point be furniture, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns. Patterns can be mixed if they are coordinated by color.

Dont get discouraged if you are having problems finding an area rug to blend in with your decor. We suggest you surf NatureRugs.com for the vast variety of Rugs that will suit your situation. For some reason, Jaipur & Agra Rug designs and colors tend to work with many fabrics.

4. Using Multiple Area Rugs

Should you use one r! ug or two One rug is the general rule as it coordinates the room together and helps select fabrics for furniture, curtains, etc. In a very large room, more than one rug can be used to separate the room. The designs of the rugs should be different enough to create spatial separation, but similar in color and quality to maintain the integrity of the room space.

Two or more rugs should complement each other One needs to be dominant in size They should be similar in at least design/color/size Smaller rugs should not look like clones

5. Color

If redecorating an already furnished room, choose a rug to pick up the colors used in your furnishing patterns

Paint or paper the walls in colors found in the rug when color coordinating.

Look for a rug that h! as commonality with the existing color of the walls.

A rug with a bold, overall design can be the focal point of a room with a chair and sofa in solid or subdued patterns.

Light colored rugs make a room look more spacious, and deeper colors lend coziness to a room.

6. Durability

For floor rugs wool is usually a preferred choice as it resists daily wear better than synthetics. Wool has many wonderful qualities- deep, rich color tones, high durability and relative ease of care. For more information you can read article Advantages of Wool over Synthetic Fibers.

Silk rugs are better used for walls, throws etc. Living rooms are ideal to showcase silk rugs.

Chromium dyes are strong and deliver consistency and durability of color.

Vegetable dyes give the rug a patina of color, a casual look that is very attractive.

7. Shape

Let your decorating style determine your rug shape.

Don’t be limited to the idea of getting a rectangular rug.

A circular or octagonal-shaped floor covering can add flair and elegance.

8. What is the dealer return policy

You should at least have one week risk free trial period to experience the rug. You can test the wool texture, dye quality take a moistened paper towel and run it along the edges & center, the dye should not bleed out & see if it fits into your home décor.

Other considerations:

Medallion design area rugs should be centered in the room & directly under the chandelier

Dont select a busy area rug if the rooms color scheme and patterns are busy as well.

Keep your family safe by making su! re that rug corners do not extend into high traffic areas.

Watch out for the fringe. If the rug you like has fringe, make sure it’s sewn on well, and very carefully use the vacuum cleaner.

Look at the back of a rug, as this will usually tell if it is machine or handmade. If the fibers are stiff and run straight up and down, its a machine rug.

When buying oriental rugs, avoid going-out-of-business sales and auctions where sellers arent likely to be around later if your rug has a problem

In all rooms try to avoid having the corner of the rug end up in the middle of the doors or archway openings.

For smaller rooms, a small pattern is more appropriate. It gives the appearance of a larger room.

If you’re looking for absolute perfection, don’t buy a handmade area rug. Expensive hand-made rugs are not squared off as properly as imitation machine-made reproductions. Also read Article Hand Knotted vs! . Machine Made Rugs.

Don’t underestimate the value of an underlay. Not only will it absorb the impact of feet and noise, it will reduce wear and tear on the rug and make vacuuming easier.

It is recommended to rotate rugs end for end on a yearly basis to equalize wear.

Oriental rugs fade, as does upholstery. Avoid direct sunlight.

Another recommendation is to have rugs cleaned professionally periodically by a reputable cleaner

To meet Federal Trade Commission requirements Persian/ Oriental rug dealers label each rug with its country of origin and the distributors business name. Labels having the words Indo-, Sino- or Pak-, for instance, would indicate that a rug came from India, China or Pakistan respectively.

Rugs are called tribal" if they are woven by nomadic groups.

About The Author

Meena Datta in and expert handmade oriental rugs from India. She also is free lance interior design consultant.

Rugs Buyers Guide may be re-published as long as the following resource box is included at the end of the article and URL mentioned in the resource box:

Rug Buyers Guide provided by NatureRugs.com. NatureRugs.com is a premier web site for authentic oriental hand made rugs at below wholesale prices combined with peerless customer satisfaction. You can visit them at http://www.NatureRugs.com meena@naturerugs.com

Decorating your childs room should be fun and exciting for all involved. The most important thing to remember when planning or decorating your childs room is to keep the decor age appropriate. You wouldnt want to decorate your 3 year old daughters room in the same style as your 13 year old daughters room. That doesnt mean you have to start decorating all over every few years. What it means is that you should strive to create a room that will grow with your little girl /little boy but is age appropriate. Some helpful tips follow.

Get a feel for what colors your child likes. If they are fairly young show them a box of crayons and let them pick out their favorite colors. Use those colors as inspiration for the childs room decor. The older child or children can easily tell you what colors they prefer.

Dont force your style or color likes and dislikes on your children. Despite their young age they are developing their personalitys and their rooms are an extension of it. Of course if they insist on all black walls and Marilyn Manson posters, its reasonable to say No. The lesson here is to set limits but also to give your child room to create their special place in the home.

Use your imagination ask your child for input when painting your childs room. The wall treatments can range from applying a calming and soothing neutral wall color to creating fantastic murals that bring your childs dreams to life. I highly recommend Debbie Travis Painting book for childrens rooms if you want unique and interesting paint ideas. Decoupage is another form of decorative finishes that you can use to create a truly unique and magical childs room.

Furniture themes for your childs room can be: whimsical with butterflies and bees, elegant a la French country style, romantic like a princess inspired theme complete with a half crown above the bed, heroic like a firefighter inspired theme for a boys room with a fire engine truck for a bunkbed, a charming rustic lodge style complete with log cabin headboard and so many others! You can buy many of these themed furniture pieces or you can create some of them yourself.

About The Author

Carmen Natschke is a designer, speaker and co-founder of Room In A Kit LLC. She is passionate about decorating and has shared that passion with hundreds of women through her Decorating Divas workshops and seminars. To read more decorating articles by Carmen visit http://www.roominakit.com.

The trend these days is to discover extremely innovative ways to decorate interiors on a budget. The tips provided below are just a few of the many ways one can inexpensively achieve a truly original look for a room.

Borders on a wall are an elegant way to change the look of a room. The easiest way to do this is to paint two parallel lines either at eye level or about a foot above the floor. Deciding on what motifs or designs to paint or stencil between these two lines will depend entirely on who the occupants of the room are. For example, if it is a child’s room then you could dip the child’s hands in paint and make hand prints between the lines at regular intervals. I am yet to find a kid who doesn’t enjoy this activity thoroughly! Also, kids love to display their school art projects on their bedroom walls. Try hanging up these projects on their room walls and watch their eyes light up!

Another option for border design is block printing using vegetables or fruits. Capsicum, okra and apples when cut in half horizontally, dipped in paint and stamped onto the surface produce readymade floral designs. String beans can be used to print tiny leaf designs. Use your imagination to cut up a design on potatoes or carrots. Then use this as a homemade stencil to reproduce the design.

Here is another great way to add design to your walls. Choose any old toy car or truck in your child’s toy basket, dip the wheels into the paint and roll it along the surface to create parallel lines; or you could zigzag them for a cute effect!

Step outside for a walk. Pick up a few leaves that appeal to you. Now dip the leaf surface into the paint and press it onto the wall to create a naturally stenciled leaf design.

For a genuine work of art, try this. Dip an old toothbrush into paint. Hold the brush close to the surface you would like to produce this effect on. Now pull back the bristles and release them gently so that a fine spray effect is produced on the desired surface. Test out the spray action on a piece of paper before trying it on a wall. Sponge painting is another surface painting method to create special effects inexpensively. Sponged-on designs actually let you personalize your space with minimum effort, cost and time. All you need is a plain wall, some cheap acrylic paint, a sponge and lots of enthusiasm! If you can’t afford the expensive sea sponges, then don’t fret yet, there is help. Just get any old/new sponge, randomly pinch out pieces so you get an uneven plucked out effect. Now hold this piece of ‘personal art’ comfortably in your hand and dip it into the paint. Then dab the paint-soaked portion onto a scrap of paper, just to get the excess paint out. Proceed to applying the sponge onto the wall at regular intervals. Stand back and view your artwork before touching up the design. Have fun!

To go in for a really coordinated design scheme, you can use the same effects you used on the walls of the room on the furniture or other accessories in the room. For example, if your kitchen walls have the leaf design, then you can use the same design on the cupboards, tabletops, and refrigerator door and bread box too!

I hope that was a fun set of frugal ideas to spruce up your walls this summer. But before you rush off to start, make a note of the following tips too: Make sure the surface to be decorated is clean and dry. Keep your supplies [sponge, paint, rags, scraps of paper or tissue, stencils, vegetables or fruits etc] on an old newspaper so you don’t have a messy floor to contend with at the end of your project. Use acrylic craft paint instead of the oil based stencil paint because it is brighter and easier to clean.

Now that just reminds me, there are a whole lot of people staying in rented homes who aren’t allowed to paint their walls! Guess what You can still decorate with any design you want! Here’s what you do:

Using any of the tips given above, paint, stencil or block-print the designs you want on cheap sheets or old bed sheets. Make sure you use good quality fabric paint.

Let it dry thoroughly. Then cut out these designs and soak them in a solution of liquid starch and water [2 tsp starch to one cup water]. Now place them on the walls wherever you want. They can be peeled off easily when you get tired of them or when it’s time to move!

About The Author

© Rachel Paul, 2004.

Rachel Paul is a busy at-home mom and an avid interior decorator who loves to find genuinely innovative ways to perk up her home in the few free moments she finds between caring for her family and pursuing home study writing courses as well. She can be contacted at: rpaul197@yahoo.com.

Permission is granted to reprint for free with resource box intact. rpaul197@yahoo.com

Where is that hammer

Save time and frustration by assembling your own decorating toolbox. Most do-it-yourself projects are hampered by the lack of tools or knowing where to find the tools to get the job done.

Storing Your Tools: A toolbox, caddy or a storage step stool can be used andwill allow you to organize your tools by making them available for easy to carrying.

The Right Tools for the Job:

Hanging Things: Push Pins Plastic Anchors Picture Wire Thumb Tacks Sewing Machine Needles to hang pictures without large wholes, holds approximately 30# Cup Hooks

Attaching Things: Glue Gun & Glue Sticks Can of Spray Adhesive Staple Gun & Staples Multi- Sized Rubber Bands Plastic Twist Ties Fusible Interfacings Fabric Glue Sewing Needles & Thread Starch Easy on Easy off walls for fabric wallpapering or for appliqués

Cutting Things: Good Pair of Scissors for Fabric Utility Scissors for everything else Box Cutter Woodworking you may need a light weight handsaw.

Measuring Things: Yardstick Tape Measure T-Square or Level

Decorating Things: Gold Touch-up Pen Spray paint Black& White Sandpaper Brushes Craft Paint in your decors color scheme Assortment of ribbons, buttons and fringe.

These tools may not all fit in your toolbox, yet are good to have on hand. Hammer Screwdriver - Phillips and Flat Head get multiple sizes C-Clamps Iron & Ironing Board

Take the time in advance to gather your equipment and that next do-it-yourself project will be simpler and faster to accomplish.

Where is that hammer In your Decorating Tool Box!

About The Author

Home Decorating Digest - http://www.HomeDecoratingDigest.com is an online magazine that helps homeowners find home decorating ideas and feature articles on style, color and interior design. Get decorating basics, do-it-yourself projects, organizing and outdoor garden design tips.

The first discovered carpet dates back to 1480 BC in the form of an Egyptian Fresco of handloom. Ever since, carpets have made their mark in most tastefully decorated hearths and homes. Carpets also provide an added measure of warmth and insulate against extreme heat or cold. And because a carpet is usually the foundation of decorating, covering a large quantity of the surface of our living spaces, it is an important consideration in the overall scheme of color and texture. It can provide simplicity, casualness, softness and livability; or it can provide pizzazz with vibrant color and heavier textures for making a decorating "statement." Using a carpet can be one of the easiest ways to personalize an environment - its color can be a neutral foundation "in the background," or it can be a vibrant focal point. Therefore, to find the right carpet lifestyle that fits your home, think about the way you live and the overall feel you want your home to have and you’ll invariably make the right choice.

It is rare these days to find a poor quality carpet.

The carpet industry has finally come of age with professionals ruling the roost. You can have Empire Carpets service your proud possession. Or you can drool over the innumerable designs and textures offered by Shaw Carpets – the largest carpet manufacturer in the world! And if you are a do-it-yourself guy, help yourself to carpet tiles or carpet squares to give your room that personal touch. But if ever you find yourself on cloud nine, look again – you may well be on that Mohawk Carpet!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Decorating anything is one of the easiest things in the world! And when it comes to decorating your home, if one has a will and there is always a way. It helps, of course, to know about materials, including building materials, textiles and fabrics and furnishings including antique and modern furnishings. Add to this a few home decorating ideas and you can transform your house into a home that beckons!

Decorating ideas are always available.

Home is where the "art" is – especially when decorating ideas are so easily available. Intelligent interior decorating means employing all the little things that matter – energy-saving lighting; a down comforter which not only looks attractive but also provides a cozy, comfortable element that all bedrooms deserve; judicious use of patterned upholstery; and so on…. Plants, whether real or fake, can make any room in your home more desirable. They can be placed on shelves or hung on hooks. Large plants, such as Fig trees or Philodendrons can be placed in corners of the room to add color and warmth.

It is said that lighting should be arranged to form a triangle, so use this as a guide when placing lamps. And if you have a fireplace, consider having bookshelves surrounding it as this would be a good place for a specialized collection of statues or attractive dolls. If a room is contemporary, highlight it with a bold antique to add that special element of surprise. Consider what your interiors can do for you – especially after what you have done for your interiors!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Set the stage for your beautiful room decor with a smart flooring choice. And no matter what flooring material you choose, it should be serviceable for your lifestyle. Cleanability, durability, longevity and moisture and allergen resistance are the hallmark of good flooring. Flooring sets the tone for the look and feel of a room. But beyond appearance, the choice of flooring material should be based on how a room is used. For example, a room in which there is persistent foot traffic needs a hard floor whereas the kitchen floor needs to be soft on the feet while you dish out a gourmet meal! Which brings us to the fact that there are two main types of floors: raised floors that are wood framed, and floors built on concrete slabs.

Choose the right flooring option.

One just has to go through interior decoration catalogues to know the wide choice of flooring options available today. And there choices aplenty! Laminate flooring, hardwood flooring, bamboo flooring, cork flooring, vinyl flooring, rubber flooring, tile flooring, armstrong flooring, pergo flooring and what-have-you! Choose with care. Always take expert opinion. And see how a carefully planned floor can add style and value to one of the country’s finest homes - yours!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

There is this undocumented story about Andrew Carnegie who kept postponing the decision to redecorate his home just because black, his default color of choice, was simply not used in home decorating those days! Mercifully today, you could well translate your home decorating ideas into alluring reality. For home interior decorating no longer means just coloring your walls in pastel shades and showing off your antiques – it is about using all the home decorating tips that one can get to highlight the most of what one possesses. Unless of course you wish to shrug the opportunity and call in a professional designer. But even this experience could be fascinating – what with "walk-throughs" in your "virtually" designed home before even a single coat of paint is applied! Yes, with home decorating, either way you always come up trumps!

Use home decorating tips to your advantage!

Your décor should exude your persona. Want it to appear spacious Eliminate shadows with diffused, ambient lighting. Avoid ceiling lights which make the ceiling appear low. Your ceiling should always wear the lightest color in the room. Then the pastel shades on your wall would help create that feeling of largeness. Limit the use of patterns to accent pieces – the discerning eye should not stop as it travels across the room. And if you want a cozy pad, do just the opposite – use strong colors and heavy, soft textures. Draw attention to that precious grandfather clock with carefully directed light. And if you must, make up your bathroom – in exquisite black – and eliminate that permanently booked suite at New York’s Windsor Hotel – à la Andrew Carnegie!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Interior decorating is that medium which can make your closed spaces convey to the observer a lot about you and your lifestyle through strategic use of elements which range from the visual color, lighting, form to the tactile surface, shape, texture to the auditory noise, echo. The more alluring the result, the more the aesthetic, practical and technical appreciation for these elements the designer must have. He or she must understand how people use and respond to these elements, not just individually but as the elements interact with one another. Confusing Not really! For at the bottom, all one needs is to know what one wants to show off to the world from the precincts of ones space. That is why home interior decorating becomes an easier task since one can identify with its needs more easily.

Original ideas can make a significant difference in your Interior Decorating plans.

Ideally, one should work from a total interior design plan. However, dont be hesitant! Try and be responsive to our own creative "hunches." When decorating your home, dont just go piecemeal from room to room. Work up a plan for the entire home, including budget and timetable. As you go along, you can be on the lookout for interior decorating ideas. Believe me these make a lot of difference. For instance, pictures should be hung at eye level; accessories are noticed better in odd-numbered groups - its just a matter of balance; paint can be used to minimize structural defects and accentuate positive features. And most important – do not fear to experiment. After all, "Home" was not built in a day!

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

Wallpaper is often overlooked as a key part of an attractive home. The right wallpaper will add character to any room in the house, and will also allow a homeowner to cheaply and quickly change the look of their house. From a brightly decorated nursery to a soft bedroom background, wallpaper will create the right tone for any room in your house. It also gives a homeowner a great chance to express their home decorating talents. Unlike paint, so many different patterns and colors are available a homeowner is able to choose exactly the right one. There are so many wallpapers available, you are almost sure to find the one that is just right.

Some tips on maintaining your wallpaper.

If you have old wallpaper that is dirty, be sure to never wash it with water. Instead, try gently rubbing it with a steel wool pad, and afterwards be sure to apply a dry cleaning solvent. If you want to remove wallpaper, try making a mix of hot water and white vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with one half hot water and one half white vinegar and spray it on the wallpaper. Wait about five minutes, and then the wallpaper should be ready to be removed.

No matter which room in your home you’re planning to decorate, you can’t go wrong with colorful, decorative, wallpaper.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-interior-design-4u.com/ mjy610@hotmail.com

If Under the Tuscan Sun left you breathlessly and hopelessly in love with tuscan style decorating you’re certainly not alone. The rolling hills and the call of the earth itself seem to have imparted their presence into the psyche of those who either read the book or saw the movie.

This growing trend in tuscan style decorating is similar to the which-came-first theory of the chicken or the egg.

Whichever the answer, the results are genuinely inspirational. Images of our direct connection to the earth itself are born and spark a craving for the proximity of familiar faces.

In tuscan style decorating we are able to reflect our passion for that connection to the earth and to what is real.

All that which is old and forgotten becomes new and significant again.

Elements of tuscan style decorating incorporate the outdoors within the inside confines of where we live. You don’t have to be outside to commune with nature. It instead communes in harmony with the life inside our homes.

Colors in tuscan style decorating

Warmth and intensity ... just as in fine Italian coffee fills the vivid color palette of this style. The earth’s hues in ranges from blistering yellow like the sun itself to the concentrated gold’s like those she hides in her furthermost crevices are used throughout this theme. Intense shades of russet and chocolate are likewise incorporated abundantly with prominent amounts of terra cotta.

Other earth tones are likewise blended in tuscan style decorating harmony. Include expressions of coal black, deep pool or lake blue, and olive with hints of sea green in combination with generous amounts of rusty reds for added spice.

Stone in tuscan style decorating

When it comes to home décor, this style is literally the salt of the earth. Natural stones and rocks from the earth itself bear this evidence. Even bricks, which are made by man, begin with clay and other elements of the earth.

Stone is used in tuscan style decorating very effectively in kitchens and in bathrooms. Other places where it makes a powerful statement are in fireplace surrounds and hearts as well as in foyers and other entrances. Creating a faux stone wall adds an immediate tuscan air to any room.

Before choosing stone for your tuscan style decorating project, know the physical qualities of any stone you’re considering. Before you decide which stone to use where to use it, you need to know its limitations. The three most commonly used stones are granite, limestone and marble.

Granite - strong, long-lasting and heat-resistant. This stone creates a stunning tuscan style decorating focal point, but is expensive.

Limestone - natural in appearance, but very absorbent and stains easily. It is typically used in flooring and for shower interiors but is not recommended for areas that receive frequent traffic.

Marble - soft and porous, unsuitable for kitchen countertops, recommended for bathrooms and floors. Use unpolished to best compliment this theme.

Metal in tuscan style decorating

True to the concept existing in harmony with the earth, the idea in tuscan style decorating is to appreciate the natural. Instead of using highly polished metals that have a shiny appearance, you’ll be incorporating metals from the past.

Select basic tin pieces to create a feeling of genuineness. If you’re creative, you may even want to try your hand at making your own tin tuscan style decorating accessories. You can go as basic or bold as you like from doing a simple picture frame to a tin insert for an antique cabinet.

Mix in other unpolished metals like copper, iron and pewter as well for dramatic effects.

About The Author

Michael Holland is the creator of http://www.kids-rooms-and-crafts.com and http://www.home-decorating-made-easy.com. His web sites offers lots of FREE decorating tips and ideas for decorating your home. Copyright ImagineQuest Information Products Inc. support@home-decorating-made-easy.com

When trying to decide if Interior Design is right for you, it helps to know what that really means. Interior Design is not simply the profession that “makes rooms and places pretty”; it takes a little bit more than that. You need to know how to do some of the technical aspects of design also. Some of these technical things include:

Designing and reading blueprints: This is particularly for the projects that require a great change in the area’s structure like wall removal etc. This is also required in order to make additional rooms, build gazebos, and adding extra rooms. You will need to draw up blueprints of the entire house or read the originals copies, so that you can do your job without causing much disturbance to the rest of the house or environment.

Environmental Analysis: Once you can read blueprints, you will have to analyze the information that is listed so that you can best decide where to go with your ideas. You need the ability to effectively create or remove space in a particular environment so that you can cause little or no disturbance the environment as a whole when making your changes.

Environmental Lighting: Many people forget that lighting is included in any space changing project. You must have knowledge of how lighting works, and have a general idea of what is needed to install light fixtures in areas that do not have them already. Many homes are not equipped with lighting fixtures in some rooms. Of course, if you wish to change the lighting fixtures from general lamps to say, track lighting, you may have a problem if you do not understand how to install it.

Basic Plumbing & pipe structure: If adding or changing spaces in kitchens and bathrooms, plumbing fixtures are often changed or re-organized. You will need to understand their basic functions in order to effectively plan a change that involves them, or is to be done around them.

Before you consider Interior Design as a profession, you should ask yourself these questions.

Creativity is a subtle, but important quality to have when considering interior design as a profession. Much of your advancement will depend on your ability to be original in your creative efforts to design any space. Clients will always want to keep a designer that can offer them something that nobody else has.

You will also need to be able to turn whatever items that they already have into works of art. Sometimes clients do not want to change everything, or buy new furnishings and draperies; they simply want to make whatever they do have look and feel different. Creative thinking is the only thing that is going to help here.

Colors are your friend, and creativity can help you in setting colors against one another. Many designers love to add color to a room and change things just using this method and perhaps adding accents to existing items.

Accents in a room can vary. You can create a great space by adding throw pillows, valances, and vases. This is the perfect career choice for a person that likes to be creative, abut not idle and/or isolated.

Am I Organized

Believe it or not, Interior Designers have to be extremely well organized to be able to handle all of the little details that go into doing a good job. You have to be able to keep track of your entire inventory, while keeping on top of other things also like, materials, tracking orders, employees, and making sure that you stay on or below the budget that your client set out for you.

It is no easy feat to try and keep track of all the things that have to be done; especially when you’ve got people constantly surrounding you. You must monitor what everyone is doing and still manage to keep up on what you should be doing. Do not forget that you also have to appear calm because your clients will likely be asking you a great deal of questions. If you are scattered and panicked, it will be difficult to answer all the questions and look cool at the same time.

The ability to know where everything is at, and where every person is at is another aspect of organization. It is very hard to keep jobs if you are constantly wondering where things, and employees are.

You will need to be very well organized if your design projects lead you to having to add or remove a room and/or wall. This type of work requires the use of blueprints. You must be able to read them as well as draw them up, you cannot do this without a great sense of organization.

How Good am I at Problem Solving

The ability to problem solve is a necessity for an Interior Designer. As an Interior Designer, you will encounter glitches, and it is a must that you can deal with them. Many times, these glitches will need to be solved on the spot.

Your organizational skills will come in handy when you need to solve a problem as well. An organized workplace will help you to have an organized mind. Thoughts have a way of being cluttered when your work space is likewise.

Being able think quickly and under pressure is a definite asset to problem solving. Your problem is not going to get easier if it takes you too long to come up with a solution for it. Actually, waiting can just give the universe more time to make the problem get bigger.

Can I Multitask

Most jobs require a good ability to multitask. None of these jobs requires it as much as Interior Design does. The reason for this is because Interior Designers are often doing more than one thing at a time. You can be giving instructions to your contractors, working with your assistant on the fabrics, all while explaining it your client. This can cause a little bit of stress, but if you are good at multitasking, it is not so bad.

If you are not particular good at multitasking, you need not worry. Some people have just never been put to the test as far as that’s concerned. You may have had a relaxed job setting, or you may have worked on an assembly line for a few years. Many jobs require you to do regular tasks. They can be quite monotonous. If this sounds like you, I will list a few tips on how to help you learn to multitask.

About The Author

Marjan Zemljic is owner of Home-decorating-ideas-and-tips.com, and author of "How To Break Into The Interior Design Industry!" In his book you will find out how you can do exactly that. Visit his website at http://www.home-decorating-ideas-and-tips.com/interior-design.html

The Basic Role of Pictures

Wall art plays an important role in interior design as it helps create the ambience of a room. By cleverly placing wall pictures in certain ways, you can change and create a new look and feel in a room.

The role wall pictures play in interior design are:- pictures, mirrors or other ornamental accessories on walls help make the room look lived in and they also inject your personality into the room; color pictures and prints help connect with the rooms accent; pictures help absorb noise in a room, otherwise a room with totally bare walls will sound empty and will have an echo; pictures and prints can help enhance or change a rooms look and feel.

How to Lengthen a Room

If you have a small room in your house, you can easily achieve the illusion of length. This can be done in two ways. If you like bold statements then simply paint a couple of horizontal lines in a bold color across the middle of the wall in which you want to lengthen. These lines then naturally create the illusion of increased length in the room. An alternative way to do this, and a more subtle way, is to use pictures.

By strategically placing art pictures or photographs with any kind of strong horizontal line in the print, can accomplish the illusion of length. For example, if you chose two or three long rectangular pictures with horizontal panoramic prints such as "http://www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com/beach-pictures.htm" ocean & beach pictures, fields, or scenic "http://www.landscape-pictures-n-posters.com/mountain-pictures.htm" mountain pictures, then this will help extend the length of the room naturally.

Two, three or more of these horizontal landscape pictures will give the maximum impact you are looking for to help lengthen a small room. Also bear in mind not to overdo the room with furniture. Too much clutter makes a room appear smaller.

How to Broaden a Narrow Room

If you have a room which is a bit on the narrow side, there is a simple strategy to make the room appear broader. All you need is a tin of paint,a wall mirror and a large colorful wall picture.

Get your tin of paint, which should preferably be a darker contrasting color to your other walls, and paint one of the walls with this darker paint. Find a colorful and lively large painting and hang it on the wall you have just painted - colorful "http://www.flower-pictures-n-posters.com/flower-pictures.htm" flower pictures are ideal for this.

On the wall adjacent to your picture, hang a decorative large mirror. What has happened here is that the mirror reflects on the large picture, and the additional darker color on the wall has immediately given the room some much-needed depth. This combination will then make the room appear wider.

By adding these simple additions to your narrow room, you have instantly created a balance in the rooms dimensions giving the sensation of additional space.

How to Heighten a Low Ceiling

Rooms with low ceilings give an oppressive feeling, whereas rooms with a high ceiling give a light and airy feel with a large amount of space. To overcome the problem of a low ceiling, there are a couple of interior design strategies to use.

First of all put down a darker floor covering, whether it be a wooden floor, carpet or lino. Paint the walls with a lighter color than the floor, or use light colored wallpaper. If you can, use white paint for the ceiling as this always gives the room maximum light and instantly draws the eyes upwards.

Hang up wall pictures with strong vertical lines as this then gives the impression of height. Use portrait prints such as vertical landscapes, i.e. lighthouses, trees, cityscapes, or floral prints such as flowers in a vertical vase or tall long stem roses. Therefore, by combining the dark floor, light walls and ceiling and portraits prints, all adds to the sense of height in a room.

Summary

Art pictures and prints play an important role in home decorating for several reasons. They do not only reflect and put your own personality into the room, but they can also help as a solution to change the look and feel of a room by giving the illusion of height, width and length. This can easily be achieved by combining wall pictures, contrasting colors and decorative mirrors.

About The Author

Claire Bowes is a freelance writer and the owner of Flower-Pictures-N-Posters.com and Landscape-Pictures-N-Posters.com. In addition to fine-art prints, these two sites offer landscape photography prints and flower posters.

Apart from complimenting your newly painted walls with soft furnishings and effective flooring, home decor accessories in a room are just as equally important. Accessories ranging from flowers in a contemporary vase to art pictures hanging on your walls, all add the finishing touches to any room. Above all, accessories add personality to a room, they inject your own personal touch making your home unique to you and comfortable and inviting for you and your family.

Decorating with Art Pictures

You will be surprised at the important role that art pictures play in home decor accessories. Not only do pictures add your own personality into the room, they absorb noise and can actually help change the illusion of a rooms shape if placed in the right places. For example: horizontal landscape pictures help widen a room; Portrait floral pictures help give the illusion of height; and one large picture reflected through a mirror gives the sensation of additional broader space.

Creating Art Arrangements:-

For a maximum effect and to make interesting wall arrangements that can become a dynamic focal point of the room, try to hang smaller pictures in a cluster.

If you hang an even number of smaller prints tightly together in a cluster, this will help balance out a large space and give a window effect in a small space. Remember to hang the prints together tightly to create one unit and one focal point.

For larger pictures, place them in proportion to the furniture. For example, hang a large picture approximately six to nine inches above a sofa or at eye level. By hanging a larger print too high above any piece of furniture can leave both pieces feeling disconnected.

Tips Before Hanging Art:-

Before hanging any art on a wall, try different combinations of arrangements. Use painters tape and brown paper bags and keep rearranging the bits of paper on the wall until you have come up with a great picture arrangement.

Always hang prints at eye level and use your hand in between pictures as a guide to space large and medium sized pictures.

Create Illusions with Mirrors

Mirrors are great to help create the illusion of space. By cleverly placing mirrors on an adjacent wall to a picture or something that is interesting in your room, will reflect the image and add a sense of space.

For darker rooms, hang a decorative mirror near a window. The light will then bounce off the mirror into the room portraying more natural much-needed light back into the area.

To give the illusion of depth in a room paint one of your walls in a darker contrasting color to your other walls. Then hang a mirror on that darker wall. This instantly gives the additional sense of depth to the dimensions of the room.

Lighten up with Light Fixtures

Light fittings are one of the most important elements of home decor accessories as they set the ambience of the room. By using different types of lighting you can create different moods on different areas of the room, at different times of the day.

For example:- accent lighting such as a spot light is used to emphasize wall paintings, ornaments or other interesting areas in a room; soft lighting used by small wall light fittings or table lamps, help create a gentle romantic mood; · general lighting such as a ceiling center light, strip light or bright wall lamps are used for everyday purposes.

Tip: use a dimmer switch to create different moods with your lighting.

Adding Color with Flowers & Plants

Fresh flowers are always a wonderful accessory in a home. They are easy to blend in with any rooms accent and you can swap and change the color, type of flower and position at any time. They are such an easy and adaptable accessory to have. If you are allergic to flowers, try silk flowers instead - sometimes it is hard to distinguish between real flowers and silk ones...

By placing plants throughout your home helps add natural color, texture, and also softens the area making it more appealing to spend time there. Dont forget to use attractive plant pots and containers for your plants - they are a home decor accessory too!

Area Rugs and Textiles

Area Rugs:- Area rugs add warmth and texture to a room. They help soften wooden or hard floors and add contrasting colors and patterns into the room.

First you must determine what you want the rug for - is it a focal point or do you want to group furniture on it etc.. Secondly, you must measure what size rug you need before you go shopping.

Other Textiles:- By using other types of textile home decor accessories, you can create additional comfort and softness in using:- scatter cushions made with different types of material; throws on your sofa or lounge chair; napkins, place mats and tablecloths in the dining room or kitchen.

Summary

Home decor accessories play a crucial part in your home decorating. Even if you dont need to repaint your walls, you can still change the look of your room. By rearranging furniture and wall pictures, adding soft light fixtures, flower arrangements and plants, the placement of an area rug and using different textiles in a room, all help create a new look to reflect you and your personality.

About The Author

Claire Bowes is a freelance writer and the owner of Flower-Pictures-N-Posters.com and Landscape-Pictures-N-Posters.com. In addition to fine-art prints, these two sites offer landscape photography prints and flower posters.

Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to change a room. But choosing the right paint colors for your home can seem like an overwhelming task.

Paint, accessories, fabric, furniture, and flooring should all blend, so take a good look at the room you will be working on, preferably before you choose a paint color, and decide what will stay in the room, and what you may want to move out of the room.

The first thing you should do when choosing colors for your home, is look around at colors that make you feel good, happy, and relaxed.

These colors are probably already in your home. A few examples are the colors you love to look at in your flower garden, the colors in your jewelry, or pottery, or they can be found in the colors of the clothes in your closet.

The second thing you should do is go to your local paint store and pick up a color wheel, and or sample cards, pick the sample cards that really catch your eye, and dont be afraid to get as many as you want. Take these cards home and look at them at different times of the day and night, to see how the color will look when the sun shines in on them, or at night when you have lamps turned on, or candles burning. Study this for several days. Be patient when deciding which color feels best to you.

Complimentary colors - are the colors that are directly across from each other on the color wheel.

Harmonious colors - are the colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. Like blue and purple.

Tints - are colors with white added.

Shades - are colors with black added.

Saturation - is the amount of color used. The more color, the more vibrant.

Color tone - is the degree to which it changes.

Pastels - use only a hint of color.

About The Author

Lisa French invites you to visit her website http://decorating-country-home.com for more home decorating ideas. burtf51@bellsouth.net